Democratic Party of Japan
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2009) |
Democratic Party of Japan | |
|---|---|
| Democratic Party Logo | |
| President | Naoto Kan |
| Secretary-General | Yukio Edano |
| Spokesperson | Toshio Ogawa |
| Councilors leader | Azuma Koshiishi |
| Representatives leader | Naoto Kan |
| Founded | 8 January 1998 |
| Headquarters | 1-11-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0014, Japan |
| Ideology | Liberalism Social liberalism Third Way |
| Political position | Centre-left / Left |
| International affiliation | Alliance of Democrats[1] |
| Colours | Red and black (informally) |
| Councillors |  |
| Representatives |  |
| Website | |
| www.dpj.or.jp | |
The Democratic Party of Japan (民主党, Minshutō) is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. After the 2009 election the DPJ became the ruling party in the House of Representatives, defeating the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party and gaining the largest number of seats in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.
It is not to be confused with the now-defunct Japan Democratic Party that merged with the Liberal Party in 1955 to form the Liberal Democratic Party.
History
Philosophy
The Democratic Party call their philosophy Democratic Centrism (ja:民主中道, Minshu Chudo), which was determined in the first party convention on April 27, 1998.[2]
View of the status quo
The Democratic Party claim themselves to be revolutionary in that they are against the status quo and the current governing establishment. The Democratic Party argue that the bureaucracy of the Japanese government size is too large, inefficient, and saturated with cronies and that the Japanese state is too conservative and stiff. The Democratic Party wants to "overthrow the ancient régime locked in old thinking and vested interests, solve the problems at hand, and create a new, flexible, affluent society which values people's individuality and vitality."[3]
Political standpoint
We stand for those who have been excluded by the structure of vested interests, those who work hard and pay taxes, and for people who strive for independence despite difficult circumstances. In other words, we represent citizens, taxpayers, and consumers. We do not seek a panacea either in the free market or in the welfare state. Rather, we shall build a new road of the democratic center toward a society in which self-reliant individuals can mutually coexist and the government's role is limited to building the necessary systems.[3]
Goals
Democratic Centrism pursues the following five goals.[3]
- Transparent, just and fair society
- The Democratic Party seek to build a society governed with rules which are transparent, just and fair.
- Free market and inclusive society
- While the party argue that the free market system should "permeate" economic life, they also aim for an inclusive society which guarantees security, safety, and fair and equal opportunity for each individual.
- Decentralized and participatory society
- The party intend to devolve the centralized government powers to citizens, markets, and local governments so that people of all backgrounds can participate in decision-making.
- Compliance with the three constitutional principles
- The Democratic Party proclaim to hold the values in the meaning of the constitution to "embody the fundamental principles of the Constitution": popular sovereignty, respect for fundamental human rights, and pacifism.[3]
- International relations based on self-reliance and mutual coexistence
- As a member of the global community, the party seek to establish Japan's international relations in the fraternal spirit of self-reliance and mutual coexistence to restore the world's trust in the country.[3]
Policy platforms
The DPJ's policy platforms include the restructuring of civil service, monthly allowance to a family with children (¥26,000 per child), cut in gas tax, income support for farmers, free tuition for public high schools, banning of temporary work in manufacturing,[4] raising the minimum-wage to ¥1,000 and halting of increase in sales tax for the next four years.[5][6]
Factions
The DPJ has some political factions or groups, although they are not as factionalized as the LDP, which has traditionally placed high priority on intra-party factional alignment. The groups are, from the most influential to the least influential:
- Isshin-kai: supporters of the former LDP leader Ichiro Ozawa. About 50 members.[7]
- Ryōun-kai: the second most conservative faction. Most of its members are from The Sakigake Party. Ryoun-kai has about 40 seats in the assembly and is led by Seiji Maehara and Yoshihiko Noda.[7]
- Seiken kōyaku wo Jitsugen suru kai: formed by defectors from LDP and led by current party leader Yukio Hatoyama, has about conservative 30 lawmakers in the Diet.Former name is 'Seiken kotai wo Jitsugen suru kai'.[7]
- Minsha Kyōkai: members of the former centrist Democratic Socialist Party which merged with the DPJ early on. About 25 members, led by Tatsuo Kawabata.[7]
- Kuni no katachi kenkyūkai: led by former Party President Naoto Kan. Is a liberal leaning faction. About 20 members.[7]
- Shin seikyoku kondankai: the most left-leaning faction, created by members of the former Japan Socialist Party who felt the Social Democratic Party was too radical. About 20 seats, led by Takahiro Yokomichi.[7]
The Independent’s Club is a minor political party which forms a political entity with the DPJ in both chambers of the house.
See also
- Politics of Japan
- Marutei Tsurunen: Japan's first deputy of European origin
References
- ^ Political Parties, International Organizations and Individuals joining the Alliance of Democrats, Alliance of Democrats
- ^ Out Basic Philosophy - Building a free and secure society on The Democratic Party of Japan's website accessed on May 12, 2010.Template:Ja
- ^ a b c d e Out Basic Philosophy - Building a free and secure society on The Democratic Party of Japan's website accessed on 17 May 2008.
- ^ Ryall, Julian (2009-08-27). "Japan election: unemployed turn on the government". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Hiroko Tabuchi (2009-08-03). "Opposition Woos Japan's Voters With Costly Vows". New York Times.
- ^ "Japan opposition may score landslide win: media". Reuters. 2009-08-21.
- ^ a b c d e f 民主代表選 鳩山氏が優位、岡田氏は参院に照準, Asahi Shimbun, 16 May 2009
Further reading
- Leif-Eric Easley, Tetsuo Kotani and Aki Mori, Electing a New Japanese Security Policy? Examining Foreign Policy Visions within the Democratic Party of Japan (Asia Policy, August 2009)
External links
Bracketed numbers indicate numbers of seats in the House of Representatives (Lower House) of the National Diet | |||||
| Officially recognized political parties |
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| Political organizations with seats in the National Diet |
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