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2009/07/08
Haraguchi meets with Osaka Governor Hashimoto, discusses “decentralisation reform”
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On July 8, DPJ Next Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Kazuhiro Haraguchi, Decentralisation Research Committee Secretary General Seiji Osaka, and Next Vice Ministers of Internal Affairs and Communications Toru Kikawada and Toshiyuki Kato, welcomed Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto to party headquarters. The two sides discussed the issue of “decentralisation reform”, with each explaining their basic stance.
Haraguchi was the first to speak, saying, “We intend to break the ties of obligation, and destroy Kasumigaseki itself. In that environment, we will implement decentralisation reform and reform giving sovereignty to the regions. Undertaking reform to give sovereignty to the regions is close to a revolution.”
Haraguchi went on to explain the DPJ’s philosophy, saying, “In aiming to achieve the sovereignty of the regions, we would like to collaborate, to cooperate with the standard bearers of reform in the regions.” With regard to both decentralisation and regional sovereignty, he said that the party wanted to carry out both via a “decentralised method”.
Furthermore, Haraguchi stressed that the DPJ favoured an emphasis on autonomy at the most basic level of local government, but he added that even under the current prefectural system, “if the regions are able to choose,” they will be able to progress by the introduction of a prefectural system that is energized from the regions, rather than the current top-down prefectural system.
Haraguchi went on to point out that the regions suffered extensively as a result of the Koizumi/Takenaka reforms. He called for corporation from the regions, saying, “When transferring tax resources and financial resources to the regions, we would like to discuss what kind of measures should be taken to obtain the resources.” He expressed the opinion that the regions were extremely dissatisfied with mergers imposed on them from above, with the “mergers of the Heisei Era” a case in point, and added, “We will eliminate obligations and limitations and implement regional sovereignty reforms in the true sense of the word. We would appreciate your cooperation in this endeavour.”
In response, Governor Hashimoto expressed his gratitude to the DPJ for agreeing to meet with him, saying, “When a mere regional governor said that he would like to express his opinion to the members of the political parties who are controlling national politics, you were kind enough to create this kind of opportunity.” He went on to add that there “was nothing particular [he] wished to say” about the DPJ’s basic stance, but went one step further in expressing the opinion that in order for decentralisation to take place, he wanted the DPJ to include a reference to it as a governing mechanism that would fundamentally change the relationship between the central government and the regions in the party manifesto.
Regarding his perception of decentralisation, Hashimoto said that it differed from the values that had been promoted up to now by the National Governors Association and the Japan Association of City Mayors, and pointed out that the calls from local authorities for power and financial resources appeared to be a struggle for power and resources between Kasumigaseki bureaucrats (the central government) and local authorities in the eyes of the Japanese people. He commented, “That is why the people have not been able to keep up with the movement toward decentralisation.” He also commented on the question of whether the regions would have the ability to administer the authorities and financial resources that would be transferred to them in the event of decentralisation, saying, “Even in the case of Osaka Prefecture, it is doubtful.” He emphasised that along with reforming the bureaucracy of central government it would be necessary to carry out the same degree of reform with regard to local authorities.
Hashimoto said the answer to the question, “Why isn’t decentralisation making progress?” lies in the fact that “no political power at all is possessed by the regions. The regions have no power to decide.” He called for the creation of a system where the region would have some kind of involvement with the drafting of national policies. With regard to those policies relating particularly to local authorities, and those policies which would place a burden on the regions, he said, “whether it be the power of consent or the power of refusal, I would like you to include the granting of power to the regions into the system in some way.” At the same time, he raised the possibility of reserving a number of seats in the House of Councillors for the heads of local authorities, expressing the opinion that this was an issue for future consideration, as it would involve a variety of issues, “including the issue of constitutional amendment.”
Haraguchi said, “I totally agree with your opinion.” Osaka commented, “We intend for local authority matters to be determined by local authorities. At any rate, there is no need for central government to interfere. The shape of local authorities, the way in which local authorities should be governed should be decided by the local authorities themselves, and the content of tasks and the way they should be undertaken should basically be determined by local authorities. If we cannot secure such a framework, then decentralisation is impossible.”
After each side had expressed their basic stance in this way, they exchanged views for around 40 minutes.
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