Editorial
Aso's stray comments on splitting up ministry lack consideration
Prime Minister Taro Aso's comments on splitting up and reorganizing the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare are surprising. In the face of opposition to a split from his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Cabinet, Aso commented, "I was never particular about it from the outset."
Only recently Aso had given orders to consider splitting the ministry into a social security ministry and a ministry handling affairs relating to people's lives. His proposal came after Tsuneo Watanabe, chairman of the Yomiuri Shimbun group and editor-in-chief, proposed splitting up the ministry at a meeting of a government panel to realize a safe society, which Aso had organized. But now it seems that the Cabinet ministers concerned who began discussing the split this week have been left high and dry.
It goes without saying that the prime minister's comments carry weight. In order to issue instructions to consider splitting up the ministry, the prime minister must have an ideology relating to the government administration system, and he needs to be particular about it. It is hard to understand how he can say, "I was never particular about it." If he is criticized for lacking awareness as leader of the nation, he probably has no defense. He cannot escape blame for being imprudent.
If Aso is trying to split up and realign the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry -- which has been hit with criticism over lost pension records and its high-cost medical system for the elderly -- in order to set himself up against the opposition Democratic Party of Japan and gain popularity, he is getting his priorities wrong.
Eight years have passed since Japanese government ministries and agencies were reorganized in 2001, and it is apparent that making the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare such a huge organization has had both merits and demerits. But this does not apply to only the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. It is unclear why Aso ordered this ministry to be split up and reorganized. Consideration of further government ministry reorganization must include all ministries with a picture of the whole system; otherwise only confusion will result.
Aso's talk on splitting up the ministry was toned down by strengthened opposition from within the ruling parties. Aso also ordered officials to consider unification of kindergartens, which are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and nurseries, which are governed by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, but opposition and criticism arose from within the LDP on the grounds that supporting groups' interests would become tangled up. Aso worked his own undoing by hastily trying to advance plans ahead of the general election without calculating the support each lawmaker would offer. This has unavoidably undermined Aso's leadership abilities and weakened his cohesive power.
If there are plans to go ahead with realignment of a government ministry, the prime minister must first stand clear as a leader, listen to the voice of the public and create a consensus.
Debate over plans to split up the ministry was seen in the government panel to realize a safe society. The representative of a nationwide group of plaintiffs in a case involving hepatitis infections caused by tainted blood products said, "It's regrettable that a split of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry that one panel member proposed was reported on and speculation spread that it was just a performance ahead of the House of Representatives election." In response, Watanabe said, "It's like I, as the editor-in-chief of a newspaper company, am being accused of taking advantage of party interests and pushing others around. I want the comment retracted."
What is in question is Aso's leadership. The prime minister should reflect on his stray comments, and reinitiate sweeping debate on the issue of reorganization of government ministries to decide on the shape of the nation.
(Mainichi Japan) May 30, 2009