Amateur Campaign Platform

Democratic Party of Japan released its campaign platform for the election of the House of Representatives next month. Criticizing the economic policy of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the party upholds a concept for increasing middle class to stabilize Japanese economy. But there is no actual plan for growth strategy, which was also a problem in the last administration of DPJ led by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. The policies have fallen short of promise to the people as a party that would be able to be a leading party.

Pamphlet of the policy package starts with denouncement of Abe’s handling of the government. “It is the time for change the stream,” it says. To deny Abenomics, it raises a statistic of consecutive decline of real wage for fifteen months, while unofficial employment with unstable status and low wage has been increasing during Abe administration. Drawing attention to unilateral Cabinet decision on exercising collective self-defense right and passage of the Designated Secrecy Bill, DPJ appeals wrong handling of Abe.

However, the platform is not enough to convince voters that DPJ is reliable to lead the nation. While it criticizes Abe’s monetary policy, which brought excessively cheap yen, it presented no actual alternative. “We support families, middle and small businesses and farmers and fishermen through subsidy. We will ask the Bank of Japan a flexible monetary policy that considers situation of people’s life,” the platform says. So, what is flexible monetary policy, anyway?

As growth policy, it seeks policy concentration in “green, life, agriculture, forestry fishery, middle and small business.” No one understands how Japan can achieve economic growth by supporting those industries. Consumption tax hike will be delayed forever in possible DPJ administration, since it only promise postponing of introduction of higher tax rate without any time limit. It is unclear whether the party seeks resumption of nuclear reactors for power generation. “Without responsible evacuation plan, nuclear reactors should not be restarted,” it only says.

Those ambiguities stems from the lack of determination to regain power as a leading party. After terrible defeat in general election two years ago, DPJ had not made necessary effort to organize reliable policy package. DPJ lawmakers were too disappointed, or too naïve, to cooperate each other for rebuilding their party. The biggest reason why Abe decided to dissolve the House exists there. He thought the election needed to be done before DPJ prepares for it. DPJ platform showed Abe’s decision was right to a certain degree.