Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in his debut performance in parliament, pledged Monday to take politics to the people to restore their battered trust and to enact painful reforms to fix Japan's long-stagnant economy.
In a nod to the need to mend fences with China, Koizumi termed relations with Beijing as among Tokyo's most important two-way ties and vowed to cooperate with the Asian rival.
Koizumi's policy speech was liberally laced with the reformist rhetoric that has made him the darling of those who hope he'll deliver on promises of tough changes needed to pry the economy out of its decade-long stupor.
“The most important issue is to rebuild the economy and to create a Japanese society filled with self-confidence and pride,” said Koizumi, looking weary after less than two weeks in office.
“Adopting a stance that does not fear pain, does not flinch at the barriers of vested interests, and is not shackled by the experience of the past...I want to establish an economic and social system suitable for the 21st century.”
Financial markets as well as Japanese voters, both of whom have given Koizumi rave reviews in his first days in office, had been looking to the speech for clues as to whether the maverick politician -- propelled to power by rank-and-file ruling party members -- will match reformist rhetoric with concrete action.
Asian neighbors are also watching closely to see whether Koizumi, known for his nationalist tinge, will work to repair ties frayed by disputes over war-time history and modern trade.
Economists said Koizumi was on the right track, but noted he still needed to put more flesh out his bold-sounding proposals.
“Everyone says 'reform' but they actually want to maintain the status quo,” Koizumi told reporters after his speech in an acknowledgment of the difficult battle he faces.
A public opinion survey released Monday showed that Koizumi continued to enjoy record high support, but revealed that voters also were unsure whether he can deliver on his promises.
The prime minister an 81 percent support rating in a survey conducted by public broadcaster NHK over the weekend.
But of those who support Koizumi, only 27 percent said they do so due to his ability to carry out policy.
TOWN MEETINGS, E-MAGAZINES
Mindful of voters' ire at his long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) penchant for scandal, Koizumi pledged to restore public trust in politics by making the policy process transparent and expanding the scope for the people to participate.
“Through dialogue...I want to realize a 'politics of trust', he said, in an echo of the first policy speech by his predecessor, Yoshiro Mori, whose scandal-tainted year in office saw his popularity plummet to single-digit record lows.
It was Mori's vanishing public support that prompted LDP lawmakers to decide to hold an early party election to replace him ahead of a key election for parliament's Upper House in July.
As one way to achieve his goal, Koizumi said he would set up a body to ponder introducing the direct election of prime ministers -- a proposal he personally favors.
Koizumi also said he planned within six months to begin “Town Meetings” in which cabinet ministers would take part and to start a “Koizumi Cabinet E-Mail Magazine” to foster that dialogue.
U.S. ALLIANCE, CHINA TIES
Echoing words spoken in his first news conference as prime minister, Koizumi also promised Japan would never again become isolated from international society or go to war.
He dubbed the U.S.-Japan alliance the bedrock of Tokyo's security and diplomacy and said Japan must strive for better ties with its neighbors, including China, South Korea and Russia.
“Relations with China are among the most important bilateral relations for our country,” he said.
Tokyo has tangled with Beijing on several issues recently, including a controversial visit last month by former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui and Japan's approval of a textbook that critics say glosses over its wartime aggression.
COMPETITION, REFORM, PAIN
Repeating his campaign mantra that there can be “no economic recovery without structural reform,” Koizumi said he aimed to have banks clean up their massive bad loans to deadbeat firms in two to three years and promote deregulation to boost competition.
Koizumi promised to adopt a two-stage plan to rein in Japan's massive public debt -- already the worst among advanced nations -- beginning in the next fiscal year with a target to cap government bond issuance at 30 trillion yen.
In a second stage, the government would seek to avoid borrowing for spending other than that needed to pay back or fund the interest payment on existing public debt.
“In the process of implementing structural reforms, there will be a shake-up of inefficient sectors and pain in society,” Koizumi said, pledging steps to ease anxiety about job losses and provide financial support for smaller firms -- many of which are key LDP supporters -- TOKYO (REUTERS)
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