On August 31, newly appointed DPJ Policy Research Committee Chair Seiji Maehara spoke to reporters inside the Diet after his appointment had been officially approved by a General Assembly of DPJ Diet members. He commented, “As a symbol of our team play, I would like every one to take part in debate, and work toward detailed policy-making and consensus-building. At the same time, a sense of urgency is also important, and I would like to create a Policy Research Committee that is prepared to respond both thoroughly and speedily to such issues as the 3rd supplementary budget for fiscal 2011, the budgetary requests for the 2012 budget, disaster and nuclear-related measures and countermeasures to deal with deflation and the strong yen.” With regard to the future role of the Policy Research Committee, Maehara said that up until now the government had been responsible for deciding policy, and although this method had been speedy, it had sidelined the ruling party. He explained that President (Prime Minister) Noda wanted to change this so the policy-making process would first take place within the ruling party, and then the government and ruling party would unite to carry out effective policies. Maehara pointed out that in view of the divided Diet, discussions with the opposition parties would be of particular importance in future. He expressed the opinion that this proposal for changing the function of the Policy Research Committee had come about in view of the fact that the process by which the ruling and opposition parties engage in policy adjustment, or in working together on a common theme was likely to become increasingly important.

With regard to the three-party agreement, Maehara said, “This is an extremely significant agreement that has been reached with the LDP and Komeito. I intend to honour it while thorough discussing the details with my counterparts, the policy research chiefs of the LDP and Komeito.”

With regard to the change in the function of the Policy Research Committee, Maehara revealed that bills, the budget and treaties submitted by the government would be subject to prior discussions, and would be approved by the Policy Research Committee Chair before being submitted for Cabinet approval. He said that the role of the Policy Research Committee Chair would be to “ensure that the bureaucracy does not just decide things and go ahead with them without consultation” as well as to “act as a watchman to limit the influence that “zoku” politicians [beholden to a particular interest group] can exert over the decision-making process.” He stressed, “My resolve as Policy Research Committee Chair is being tested. The Policy Research Committee Chair is being asked not to be at the beck and call of either the bureaucracy or of “zoku” politicians who funnel requests from organizations and the like.”