Yamaguchi: Party to push consensus-building politics

April 2, 2012: New Komeito Chief Representative Natsuo Yamaguchi spoke at a conference attended by prefectural and local governments officials of Ishikawa prefecture, national legislators of the Liberal Democratic Party and leaders of the local business community on Sunday, April 1. In his speech, Yamaguchi said New Komeito would step up its effort to prod forward a Diet in which opposing parties control different chambers, thus stalling passage of vital legislation.

In addition to a divided Diet, Yamaguchi pointed out that the main impediment has been the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, which he said has consistently demonstrated an appalling lack of political leadership and remains hamstrung by deep internal discord. He cited the lack of progress on programs addressing the post-March 2011 reconstruction effort, mounting public debt and economic recovery as issues requiring immediate action, but have stalled as a result.

Yamaguchi explained that New Komeito will be promoting extensive discussion between the DPJ and LDP—the two largest parties, with the former controlling the House of Representatives and latter, the House of Councillors—to reach agreement on policy initiatives developed by his party.

New Komeito as consensus-builder has already yielded dividends: The three parties recently agreed to back a bill revising the postal services law, allowing government-owned shares in two Japan Post financial institutions to be sold and create much-needed public revenue. The bill, which was submitted to the Diet for passage on March 30, had wallowed in legislative limbo for nearly two years before New Komeito shuttled between the DPJ and LDP to achieve a tripartite agreement.