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On May 20, DPJ Secretary General held a press conference at the Japan National Press Club, in which he explained the direction of proposed DPJ reforms to political donations and “hereditary” politicians, in his position as Chair of the DPJ Political Reform Promotion Headquarters.
At the start of the press conference, Okada reflected on the previous weekend’s election to choose the new party President and the new executive line-up proposed by incoming President Yukio Hatoyama, “Three Acting Presidents is a very weighty [line-up] but I think that it is a very good structure.” He added, “President Hatoyama will act as the public face of the party, and I would like to support him as Secretary General by considering what is required from me in terms of Diet affairs, policy and coordinating overall communication within the party, and working to fulfil that role.”
Asked why the issue of hereditary politicians had become a subject for debate, Okada responded, “That is because it is weakening Japanese democracy. The existence of hereditary politicians is narrowing the path, preventing people from a wide variety of backgrounds from becoming Diet members.” He explained the policy that had been decided by the Political Reform Promotion Headquarters, saying, “We will define “hereditary” as being when the spouse or third degree relative or closer runs for election from the same electoral district [as the former incumbent] in the next election, and will not endorse such candidates.” He referred to former Prime Ministers Koizumi and Abe, both hereditary politicians, saying: “When you debate with them, you get the impression that state power is a given. Politicians must be humble when exercising the power of the state: if this is not the case, the rights of citizens will be lost. There is a danger that if [a politician] is always on the side of state power, that will become a matter of course [for them].”
In response to a reporter’s comment that “According to polls, public opinion regarding the hereditary system is evenly split. Isn’t it the case that Japanese accept the value of inherited characteristics and blood ties,” Okada responded “Isn’t that a reflection of the fact that they are faced with so many hereditary politicians?” He went on to stress his belief that it was necessary to limit hereditary politicians to make it easier for people to enter politics, saying: “One of the main reasons for the existence of the DPJ is to create opportunities for people who lack so-called support bases or name recognition to become Diet members.”
Furthermore, Okada went on to refer to the issue of the inheritance of political funds, explaining that the DPJ was also considering making it illegal for relatives within a certain degree of kinship to succeed to the post of representative of a politician’s political organisation, or for donations to be made [from that organisation] to another political organisation established by the politician’s successor.
With regard to the issue of political donations, Okada explained that the DPJ was considering “prohibiting corporate and organisational donations and the purchase of party tickets by corporations and organisations within three years.” He said, “I myself don’t think that corporate and organisational donations are in themselves a bad thing. They are one type of social contribution. However, having said that, we cannot escape the fact that some of this money is given with a particular intention in mind, and in order to totally eliminate this practice we have no alternative but to implement a total ban.” He added that over the next three years, in order to increase the number of individual donations, the DPJ would work to create a structure that would permit a certain level of tax exemptions for such donations, and would do its best to work as a party to raise funds. He stressed, “Even if we do not succeed in raising sufficient funds during the three year period, I do not see that as a reason to postpone the introduction of the comprehensive ban on corporate and organisational donations.”
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