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The afternoon session of the second day of the national meeting of the DPJ local public relations officers was kicked-off by Deputy Chair of the Public Relations Committee Mai Ohara, who acted as moderator for the session. Proceedings began with an address by Policy Research Committee Chair Seiji Maehara.
In his address, Maehara noted that there would be a general election for the House of Representatives within a year, with elections for the House of Councillors and also the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly scheduled for July 2013. He stated that given this upcoming string of elections, the period from now until 2013 could well be said to represent an impending and decisive battle, and that under such circumstances, public relations activities would be of the utmost importance.
Maehara went on to point out that the DPJ had achieved a change in government administration through policy pledges to: (1) change the way taxes are used; (2) decentralise government and grant greater sovereignty to the regions; and (3) promote private sector leadership, moving away from a public sector-centric system. However, he also noted there had since been frequent criticisms that “After the change of administration the government has managed to do nothing.” In response to such criticisms, Maehara enumerated a number of government achievements in each policy area, including the following: First, although the initial aim was to reduce public works projects over four years, this was actually achieved in one year; the introduction of the individual income compensation system for farmers has helped to increase the income of farming households; measures to effectively make high school education free have resulted in a decrease in the drop-out rate and the number of pupils returning to their studies has increased; and remuneration for medical treatment fees has been raised on two occasions, ensuring that public hospitals have been able to operate on a stable financial footing. Second, based on the assumption that what can be done locally should be implemented locally, the local burden for public works directly under the jurisdiction of central government has been reduced and the amount of block grants to local areas has been increased. Third, given the belief that public works should not be monopolised by the public sector but should also be commissioned to the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), various efforts are being implemented, including school patrols for the safety of children going to and from school being taken on by local volunteers. He also noted in relation to this point that community schools had also increased markedly in number since the change to a DPJ-led administration. Maehara concluded by stating, “It is our duty to tell the voters clearly about what we have achieved, that the direction we are heading is the right one, and also the reason why some things may not have been achieved. The mission of public relations is to take on this duty, responsibility for which rests on the shoulders of all public relations officers nationwide. We must all push forward in this decisive battle year to ensure that we continue to hold the reins and responsibilities of national administration.”
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