ニュース 2012/01/24 Koshiishi comments to press following policy speeches On January 24, DPJ Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi answered reporters’ questions inside the Diet following the policy speeches made to the Diet by the Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy. Asked for his impression of the Prime Minister’s policy speech, Koshiishi responded, “I believe that the Prime Minister’s personal determination and resolve will be understood by the Japanese people.” He also referred to Noda’s citing policy speeches made by then LDP Prime Ministers Fukuda and Aso in calling for discussions with the opposition parties, specifically comments by Aso who had stated, “In order to put in place a sustainable social security system, the financial burden needs to be commensurate with the level of benefits to be received." "We will take necessary legal measures by fiscal 2011... in order to undertake in stages and without delay fundamental reform of the tax system, including that of the consumption tax." With regard to this, Koshiishi commented, “Our current proposal is an extension of this. This makes it clear that this issue has historically been seen as one that has to be dealt with.” Koshiishi also emphasized the fact that the Prime Minister had called for Diet administration in which politicians “fix our eyes upon the big picture rather than the political situation.” He expressed the opinion that this statement “Will, I think, enable us to obtain the understanding of the opposition parties.”