On July 25, the DPJ held the second joint meeting of the DPJ Revitalization Headquarters (Chair: President Banri Kaieda) and the DPJ Revitalization Panel (Chair: Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman, Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation) at party headquarters. At the meeting, Chair Funabashi submitted a report on party reforms that the Panel spent nearly two months compiling. Kaieda vowed to take into account the report’s recommendations in swiftly executing the reforms.
The report gave foremost priority to affirming and rebuilding the DPJ’s philosophy and identity. Part 1 of the report proposed that the party adopt the philosophy of “Revitalizing the party from the regions through a bottom-up approach, together with the people.” It recommended that efforts be put into strengthening the party’s foothold in the regions and taking the first step towards party revitalization from the regions. The report contended that the DPJ should aim to become a “moderate centrist party for the people,” and noted the need to establish itself as a strong opposition party that protects the Constitution and constitutionalism.
In Part 2 regarding the party’s operations, the Panel recommended the review of the party’s operations and governance system. It recommended that the party strive to become a “political party with a network-like structure that is open to the people.” It also pointed to the need for “introducing and strengthening preliminary elections for the presidential election,” “review of the arrangement of DPJ members and supporters,” “establishment and expansion of the party’s system for building unity of purpose,” and “establishment of a think tank.”
In Part 3 concerning the promotion of gender equality, the report called for the establishment of an action plan and implementation team for “creating a party committed to gender equality,” bearing in mind the recommendation made by the DPJ Gender Equality Committee in February to field and support female candidates and develop the necessary environment.
Part 4 contained an action plan for the unified local elections.
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