Signs of a change

Back to politics. The leader of the new Japan Restoration Party shows early signs of a remarkably different attitude toward government than the likes of the LDP and DPJ. Curious to see how long it lasts.

野田代表再選:橋下氏、 是々非々で対応する考 え

毎日新聞 2012年09月21日 20時43分（最終更 新 09月21日 20時56分）

新党「日本維新の会」代表に就く橋下徹大阪 市長は２１日、民主党代表選で野田佳彦首相が 再選されたことについて、「日本維新の会は何 でも反対ではなく、政策的に合う時にはしっか りと進めて、違うところは意見を言う」と話 し、是々非々で対応する考えを示した。市役所 で記者団に述べた。

橋下氏は「多くの民意は３年前に民主党政権 を支持したのだから、それを全てひっくり返す ようなことをしては政治は成熟しない」と指 摘。今後、同党からの離党者が増えると衆議院 で過半数割れの可能性があるとの指摘に対して も「国民はそんなことは望んでいない。（重要 なのは）政策が合うかどうかだ。過半数割れを 狙うとか『すけべ心』が出たら日本維新の会は 消滅だ」と述べ、既成政党との違いを強調し た。【原田啓之】

http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20120922k0000m010073000c.html

Noda’s party leadership re-election: Hashimoto wants to give a fair and balanced response

Toru Hashimoto, mayor of Osaka who also serves as leader of the new “Japan Restoration Party,” gave remarks to the press at city hall on the 21 st concerning the re-election of Prime Minister Yoshihiro Noda as party leader of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). “The Japan Restoration Party is not opposing anything. Rather, we will proceed where we agree politically and where we disagree, we will state our opinion,” he said, indicating a desire to respond in a fair and balanced manner.

Hashimoto pointed out that “The majority of the public supported the DPJ administration 3 years ago so completely going back and overturning that is not a sign of political maturity.” Even with the possibility of deserters from the DPJ increasing to the point where it loses its Lower House majority, “The people don’t want that. The important thing is to determine whether policy is fitting or not. If the desire to destroy the majority or like ‘perverted ideas’ appear, I will dissolve the Japan Restoration Party,” he said, emphasizing a difference with existing parties.