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On February 24, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) held its annual party convention for 2013 in Tokyo. Director General of the Party Convention Executive Committee Koichi Takemasa (DPJ Administration Committee Chair) called the convention to order. Member of the House of Representatives Junya Ogawa and Member of the House of Councillors Hiroe Makiyama were elected as the co-chairs of the convention and were received with unanimous applause. After the co-chairs delivered their addresses, all the attendees offered silent prayers expressing their deep condolences for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 and to commemorate the party members who have passed away since the last party convention.
Chair of the Party Convention Executive Committee Teruhiko Mashiko gave the opening speech, stating that “Our party is facing an adverse situation. We have to make a new start that utilizes the valuable experiences we have gained during our three years and three months as the ruling party and reflect seriously on the results of the recent election. Under the leadership of President Kaieda, we must move forward with firm resolve to regain power. Given this opportunity, I would like to express my appreciation for all the support Japan has received, both domestically and internationally, throughout the two years that have passed since the Great East Japan earthquake.”
Following on from the addresses given by various special guests, President Banri Kaieda also delivered a speech. Kaieda remarked that in compiling the first report for reforming the party and the draft of the DPJ Mission Statement, the party executives had traveled all over the country to take note of the criticisms and opinions of the people. He urged DPJ Diet members, representatives in local branches, and other party members to work as one under the new Mission Statement, and to thoroughly enhance dialogue and communication with local people. Kaieda expressed determination, stating that “The DPJ will move forward with the goal of achieving a DPJ government once again. We will maintain the confidence and pride we feel as the first opposition party ever to have experience of being the ruling party and will seek to regain the trust of the people by fulfilling our responsibilities to them.” Furthermore, he declared that, “Acting as a reform-oriented party, the DPJ will stand up for the people and go head to head with the Abe Administration, arguing for the comprehensive reform of social security systems.”
Secretary General Goshi Hosono explained the agenda of the party convention and stated “This is the most important party convention in all 15 years of our history. I would like to use this convention as a platform for consolidating our resolve towards surmounting the defeat we suffered in the latest general election, wining the upcoming elections for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly and the House of Councillors, and regaining power.” The agenda items, including the first report by the DPJ Party Reform Headquarters, the draft of the new Mission Statement, draft action policies for FY2013, the settlement of accounts for FY2012 and the budget for FY2013, and a draft for revising the party’s code of conduct, were approved with unanimous applause.
After the convention, President Kaieda attended a press conference and commented “We have now cleared the first hurdle. Our next step is to push ahead in preparation for the debates in the Diet, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election in June, and the House of Councillors election in July. We will travel far and wide across the country, sparing no pains in gathering the opinions of the people all over Japan, which will guide us in achieving the successful reform of the party.”
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