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2012/11/16
PM Noda holds press conference following the dissolution of the Diet
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On the evening of November 16, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, in which he emphasized his desire to resolve the problem of “politics that cannot decide” through a reform of the political situation and the dissolution of the Diet. Noda stressed that since his appointment as Prime Minister, he and his cabinet had been undertaking measures for various challenges and doing their utmost on issues such as restoration and recovery, the struggle against the nuclear accident, and the revitalization of the Japanese economy, in addition to work on the negative vestiges of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) such as the high national debt and prolonged deflation. He explained that the coming election will ask ‘whether we can put forward the reforms that we have tried to achieve through the change in government, or whether we will go back to old politics.’ He also indicated his recognition that ‘the coming election is to determine which direction will be set by those at the helm of Japan from 2013 onward. Will we decide to go forward, or will we decide to reverse course and return to the way things were before the change in government?’
Commenting on the points of contention for the upcoming election, Noda raised the following five themes: (1) Social security policy; (2) Economic measures; (3) Energy policy; (4) Diplomatic and security policies; and (5) Political reform. He posed questions to the people of Japan, ‘Who will grieve for this country? Who will consider its future? Who is trying to forge a path for Japan with courage and determination? What kind of politicians and which party feel the strongest about all of this? We ask the people of Japan to make their own judgment.’ He finished his speech with remarks of great resolve, stating, ‘For the people of Japan, for the creation of security and fulfillment of our responsibilities to tomorrow, and for the advancement of politics, we in the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) are determined to do everything in our power to take the helm of this country over the next four years.’
The following English version is available on the website as follows:
Press Conference by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/noda/statement/201211/16kaiken_e.html
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