ニュース 2015/02/03 DPJ holds first meeting of ‘Headquarters for Constructing a Society Based on Mutual Coexistence’ Okada and other members of the DPJ leadership met with French economist Professor Thomas Piketty　(Jan. 30, 2015) On February 3, DPJ held the first meeting of the ‘Constructing a Society Based on Mutual Coexistence Headquarters’　(tentative translation), chaired by DPJ President Katsuya Okada, inside the Diet building, confirmed members of the executive board for the headquarters and exchanged views on how discussions should take place. Regarding the purpose of the headquarters, Okada explained, “Issues discussed here are truly the top priority for the DPJ. Widening social disparities are a common phenomenon in developed countries, including here in Japan, where they have suddenly widened. We will propose a new economic model to build a Japan with few social disparities. I would ultimately like us to forge concrete policies to achieve this.” After the meeting, the DPJ Acting President Akira Nagatsuma, concurrently Acting Chair for the Headquarters, told reporters that at the meeting “We exchanged various views, for example pointing out that narrowing social disparities not only benefits the economy, by encouraging economic growth, but also leads to social stability.” Nagatsuma stated that members of the Headquarters’ executive board would make field trips to study actual cases of social disparities around the country, as well as examples of projects that the DPJ should aim to achieve with its policies.　He said that the Headquarters would hold regular weekly hearings and would compile an interim report by the next House of Councillors election, due to take place in mid- 2016. Prior to this, on January 30, Okada and other members met with French economist Professor Thomas Piketty at the French ambassador’s residence, and exchanged views on social disparities, etc.