Truths on Political Money of Ozawa	No.626 March 17, 2009
		A probe of illicit donation by a construction firm to an opposition leader, Ozawa Ichiro, President of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and a possible next prime minister, has revealed dark sides of the two-party political system. The scandal began with his office: his chief secretary was arrested on suspicion of violating the Political Funds Control Law. President Ozawa flatly denied the allegations, but his explanations were far from persuasive. Politics and money – the relations trembled the top leader of the biggest opposition party. Distrust in politics deepens. Insincerity will bring about serious consequences in the gloomy economic environment, if it goes to the wrong direction. INEVITABLE OUTCOMES DUE TO TWO-BIG-PARTY SYSTEM Fresh facts have emerged after the first press meeting of President Ozawa: the illicit fund amounts several hundreds of million Yen and his office actively worked for Nishimatu Construction Co. in contracting public construction works. President Ozawa explains that it is ‘unnecessary to investigate sources’ of contributions and that it is ‘not illegal for a management office of the political party to receive donations from business bodies’. He wants to close the issue, but that is not accepted. He adds that he has had enough money from business firms besides the builder in question and political organizations that he did not check. A decade ago the government carried out ‘political reforms’, claiming ‘politics that does not cost money’. But in fact the small constituency election system was introduced and a loophole for donation was created: the government was intended to prohibit corporate contributions in exchange of establishing the political subsidy system, but it allowed exceptions of donations. Thus the two big parties which collect funds from business entities have controlled over the Diet and politics has become more costly. The reform must be criticized and the president of the biggest opposition should be the first example to rectify it. The same scandal taints members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), including Nikai Toshihiro, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. A strict investigation must be made. Synergy Effects Produces Evils The scandal, however, is not limited to the politics and money, but evokes serious problems. As commercial media ridicule as ‘a negative balance’, the DPJ is happy with unpopular Prime Minister while the ruling bloc is so to have lost a big enemy. This shows there is no fundamental difference between the LDP and DPJ. The unprecedented economic recession has mercilessly aggravated living conditions of people, boosting distrust in the parliamentary politics. Taking advantage of confusions, the Aso government decided to deploy the Self Defense Forces (SDF) vessels to the water off the coast of Somalia and prepares a new law to send troops abroad, which the DPJ enthusiastically welcomes. Premier Aso proclaims to intercept Taepodong missiles, while former SDF chief of Staff Tamogami is actively present in the mass media. Developments go further. The government, seeing hardship in the livelihood of people and their distrust in the parliamentary politics, reiterates to reduce the number of lawmakers and set up a unicameral parliament. Meanwhile the DPJ agrees to the government’s proposal in the manifesto: they study a decrease by 80 Diet members in the proportional representation seats in the House of Representatives. Osaka Governor Hashimoto Toru urges municipalities to put salary data of public workers on the web-sites. The situation worsens. Don’t Forget Historic Lessons! The critical point is absence of political unity: both the Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party maintain prohibition of political donations, oppose overseas deployment of the SDF and defend employment, claiming a ban on rental labor. A survey shows that, even though the DPJ loses support sharply, the numbers of LDP support and those who do not affiliate to any party increase in turn. People face poorer living conditions, losing a prospect for the future. It is crucial now to organize a pole sustained by joint efforts; it is not either the LDP or the DPJ. Otherwise voters will be excluded. We do not forget a fact in the history that the economic chaos had produced fascism. Mass movements have spread, incorporating different groups, to defend Article Nine and fight against poverty and unemployment. Our candidate Hara Kazumi will run, supported by the united efforts of local civic forces, in the First Election District of Hyogo Prefecture for the House of Representatives. The New Socialist Party has election cooperation agreements with local organizations of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). According to media reports, participants in the SDP’s February 28 national meeting of representatives criticized the inclination to the DPJ and demanded prudence on the election alliance. A third force to integrate voters is crucially needed.