EDITORIAL: Kan's press conference

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has apparently decided that it would be irresponsible to abandon his job at this moment even though he failed to win a public mandate to govern the nation in the recent Upper House election.

If so, we would have liked to hear him speak clearly abut what he will try to achieve.

What Kan said at a Friday press conference, held unusually on the day a Diet session was convened, was effectively his policy speech for a fresh start.

At the outset of the conference, Kan admitted his remarks suggesting a consumption tax hike were a major cause of his party's defeat in the election. But he nevertheless stressed his determination to continue his efforts to restore health to state finances.

Kan is right in saying that this is a policy challenge no Japanese prime minister could possibly avoid tackling.

At the same time, Kan said he will not propose a consumption tax increase as he seeks re-election in the party leadership contest in September.

This mixed message, confusing to voters, doesn't make clear whether he is really committed to fiscal reform.

Kan emphasized his intention to focus on reducing wasteful spending in the process of formulating the budget for next fiscal year. By doing so, he probably responded to the public sentiment that there are things to be done before any tax increase.

Kan deserves credit for acknowledging the need for Diet members to make a sacrifice themselves to promote fiscal rehabilitation. But he acted too hastily when he said he will seek to secure by the year-end a bipartisan agreement on cuts in the numbers of seats in both houses.

This is an issue that directly affects the foundation of the election system. A decision concerning the issue made without careful consideration would create problems for the future.

As for the divided Diet, Kan said he will adopt a positive stance toward the situation. Arguing that even tough policy goals could be achieved if there is bipartisan agreement, Kan called for cooperation from the opposition camp.

Kan arranged the press conference with much zeal to make clear his administration's new policy priorities.

His performance, however, was disappointing as it offered no clear sign that he is firmly determined to make every effort to revive his leadership.

The opposition camp now commands a majority in the Upper House. The ruling Democratic Party of Japan is far from united, with members supporting former Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa openly calling for Kan's resignation.

For the time being, his only hope lies in public support. He must have support from the people in order to make meaningful attempts to persuade his opponents in the ruling party and opposition parties to play ball with him.

To sway popular opinion in his favor, Kan needs to make an all-out effort to sell the people on his ideas, policies and plans to implement them.

There are troubling signs that Kan, in an attempt to ensure his re-election as party chief, is adopting an overly humble attitude to avoid antagonizing critics within the party so that he can weather the political storm.

He is tiptoeing around the issue of how he intends to initiate policy debate on the consumption tax.

He is also being vague about what he intends to do with the ruling party's manifesto for last year's Lower House election, which is filled with promises that cannot possibly be fulfilled because of an acute revenue shortfall.

A politician who so readily clams up on his political beliefs cannot be expected to provide the powerful leadership needed to pull the nation out of its morass.

In his policy speech during the last regular Diet session, Kan said whether he can exercise effective political leadership or not depends on whether the people place their confidence in him.

It is, however, difficult to regain the trust that has been lost. All Kan can do now is to make tenacious efforts to persuade the public to support his leadership in hope of finding a way out of his trouble.

Next week's Budget Committee sessions will also offer him a great opportunity to send out his message.

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 31