Finally moved! Opposition party backstage October 3rd 10:21

The opposition party has finally moved! For the extraordinary Diet from October 4, the Constitutional Democratic Party and the National Democratic Party joined the denominations in the House of Representatives and the House of Representatives. It has been almost 7 years since the fall of administration. While the political situation called “Abe 1 strong” continues, will the divided powers come together again and trigger the reversal offensive? Does it end in "Ancestor Return to the Democratic Party"? I chased behind the scenes.
(Politics reporter Kenshi Okumi, Keisuke Sakuma, Emi Yonezu)

"Democratic Party" reunited! ?

September 19, a room in the Diet. Six representatives and chief secretaries of the Constitutional Democratic Party, the National Democratic Party, and the three opposition parties of the National Congress to rehabilitate social security met together and shake hands.

Hirofumi Hirano, who served as the chief secretary of Yukio Edano, and former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

And the former Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba.

From September 2009, three years and three months, he has been at the heart of the Democratic Party Administration and appeared on TV and in newspapers every day.
This member formally agreed to join a parliamentary group from the extraordinary Diet.

Suddenly the Diet Committee Chairperson

The former Democratic Party members gather again. Among them was the former Minister of Finance, Yasumi Azumi.

Although he was active without affiliation, he joined the Constitutional Democratic Party at the time of the congregation of this group and became the chairman of the National Assembly Committee.

The chairman of the National Assembly, who is responsible for all deliberations, is the front line commander of the ruling and opposition party and opposition cooperation. Yasumi experienced this heavy responsibility during the ruling and democratic eras, and tasted the sour and sweet of the bargaining in the Diet.

It's not just safe living. The former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Masaharu Nakagawa joined the Constitutional Democratic Party, and Sumio Mabuchi, who served as the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, also announced the joining of the group.

"Many friends in the Democratic Party have repeatedly made mistakes and frustrations, but I want to learn from them."
Azumi told his reporters about his enthusiasm.

Edano's policy change

Why did members who knew their origins reunited?
There was a policy change of the Constitution Democratic Party representative, Edano.
“I don't want to go to Nagata-cho's general federation”
This is what Edano has been doing since the formation of the Constitutional Democratic Party.

Edano, who emphasized the philosophy and policy of the party more than anything else, instinctively replied, “Isn't it the logic of Nagata Town's combination of numbers?”
“I don't think the basic attitude has changed, but I have entered a phase that requires this kind of battle, and I think the stage has changed.”

Impact of “Reiwa Shinsengumi”

"The stage has changed"

A veteran member of the Democratic Party administration who also experienced ministers explains:
"This is to prevent further support from the Reishin Shinsengumi, which has made great strides in the Upper House election."

The Constitutional Democratic Party, whose seats were expanded in the Upper House election. However, proportional representatives have lost more than 3 million votes since the House of Representatives election in 2017.

On the other hand, Reiwa Shinsengumi won 2.28 million votes and 2 seats as proportional representatives. There is a view that the old opposition parties could not receive the criticism vote of the Abe administration and the votes flowed to new forces such as “Reiwa”.

"A certificate of recognition to Taro Yamamoto"

Edano himself denies the relationship between this view and the congregation. However, Ichiro Ozawa of the National Democratic Party, who once acted in the Diet with the representative of Rei Shinseng Taro Yamamoto, jokedly said:

“Mr. Edano had a far-reaching outlook for the future of the Constitutional Democratic Party, but was greatly influenced by the results of the“ Rei Shinsengumi ”led by Taro Yamamoto in the Upper House election.”

“Looking at the results, it seems to have changed my mind. I have to issue a certificate to Taro Yamamoto.”

Ozawa's theory is that “number is power”. I think it is essential to regroup opposition forces, especially the former Democratic Party. Each member of the parliament, who was unwilling to join the factional congregation with the Constitutional Democratic Party, was persuaded under the surface of the water and played a role in the joining. I read that it is possible to change the government in the next House of Representatives election if you bring not only the denomination but also the confluence of the parties.

“Absorbed by drinking policy”

A congregation of denominations officially decided before the extraordinary Diet session. The road so far has never been flat. There was also a clash between Menz and Menz.

It was August 5 when the movement of the congregation group surfaced.
On that day, Constitutional Democracy, Edano, had a party meeting with the national democracy, Tamaki.

He called for joining the parliament in the House of Representatives and handed a document.

“Encourage your understanding and cooperation in energy-related policies such as the zero bill of the Constitutional Democratic Party, and revisions to the civil law for surnames for alternative couples”
“I would like to join the in-house group“ Constitutional Democratic Party / Independent Forum ”and fight together in the House of Representatives ...”

It's a roundabout expression,
“Encourage the Constitutional Democratic Party ’s policy to be swallowed and absorb the members of the National Democratic Party”
It was content that could be interpreted.

Tamaki Counter Proposal

Tamaki, who saw the document for the first time at the meeting, felt that he was looking from the top.

There were a series of opposition voices from the National Democratic Party.
“Negotiating policies such as nuclear policy should be discussed.”
“You should join the faction in an equal position.”

However, there were circumstances that could not be struck.

The party's approval rate is sluggish.
According to the NHK poll, the National Democratic Party's approval rating in August was 1.5%. There is no sign of an upward trend.

Tamaki felt that “there is no other way but to gather the opposition parties and make a“ big chunk ”.

In order to keep pace with the government and the ruling party in the House of Representatives and the House of Representatives, he told Edano, “In addition to the House of Representatives, we will be in the House of Councilors.”
I decided to counter-suggest.

Once farewell

August 15th. Nagatacho was quiet in Obon.

Edano and Tamaki meet again. Edano overruled Tamaki's counter-suggestion.

Is it okay to swallow the policy or be absorbed by the constitutional Democratic party?
"Not answering"

The talk ended with farewell.

Overcoming

The stage of the breakthrough was August 20, the third party meeting.

On this day, one document plays an important role.

An agreement document published by Edano and Tamaki.
"The National Democratic Party accepts the proposal of the Constitutional Democratic Party on August 5"
a.

On the other hand,
“Confirming that each position is based on the fact that each party is a different party”
It was also written.

The Constitutional Democratic Party expressed in the first sentence, “The National Democratic Party has accepted our proposal, that is, it has swallowed the policy and joined the denomination.”
I can argue.

On the other hand, the Democratic Party of Japan "was not swallowed policy" based on the latter stage
I can speak strongly.

Edano and Tamaki chose “political settlement” for “utility” while considering each other's mentors.

The discussion on nuclear policy and other matters has been effectively shelved, and the path to accelerate the move to confluence has been established.

Union outside mosquito net

How did the trade union / association supporting both parties view this series of moves?

The Union has approximately 7 million members and has had a great influence on the Democratic and Democratic parties. Until now, we have had close discussions with the political parties we support throughout the policy and political departments.

But this time it was different.

August 5th, when Edano started meeting with Tamaki.
A federal executive first learned of a party meeting from a news agency.

“Neither President Kozu nor the Secretary General was informed. There was no formal explanation after the meeting, and I only knew the contents in the press.”

The denominations were led by the party, and the coalition continued to be "outside the mosquito net".

August 20th when the agreement was exchanged at the third party meeting.
“We will have a party talks from now on. We will report on the contents after the meeting.”

It was a call from Fukuyama, the president of the Constitutional Democratic Party. It was 30 minutes before the start of the meeting.

That morning.
Tamaki attended regular meetings with six unions affiliated with the Union.
"No policy debate is necessary"
Tamaki said, “There is no looseness in the basic part of the party.”
And so on.

However, he said he did not touch the party party meeting that was scheduled immediately after.

One of the trade union executives in attendance learned from the press that a consensus was reached at the party's meeting.
"Is it stupid?"
I threw it away on the reporter's interview.

Another coalition executive exclaimed this feeling.
“In the past, there was a little more rooting and follow-up in advance.”

Policy discussion, shelving ...

The effect surfaced as early as the next day.

“We did not endorse the zero bill of the Constitutional Democratic Party”
It was Masao Kobayashi, President of the National Democratic Party, who made a statement in front of the reporters.

Kobayashi is from the labor union of each electric power company and the power general union, and has been elected as a member of the House of Councilors and a proportional representative with the support of the union. If the policy aiming for “zero nuclear power generation” is not accepted immediately, it is a form that has been tempered by the intention of the mother.

"If you don't cooperate with the policy, it's a breach of agreement between leaders."

Edano immediately rebounded. He showed anger and flickered the talk.

The push from the labor union does not stop there.
Regular meeting of “UA Zensen” held on September 10th in Nagoya.

UA Zensen supports the Democratic Party with trade unions in the textile, food and distribution industries.
At the convention, Chairman Akihiko Matsuura greeted as follows:
"I can't explain to union members if these points remain ambiguous, whether they're 'considering being a different party' or 'drinking the policies of the Constitutional Democratic Party' or whether they can maintain their stance as a central reforming party."

Matsuura continued to do this after naming Tamaki.
“We can't support the fact that we will join the group by overcoming our own policies and stances as the National Democratic Party.”

Tamaki, in an unusual criticism in front of his full seat, was stiffened and hardened.

Tamaki who just entered the stage.
“When deciding on something important, I want to explain it carefully and proceed carefully while valuing the process.”

And with this power.
“I want to clarify the“ righteousness ”of what we want to bring together. I want to move forward while firmly keeping the position of the party as a“ middle way reform ”.”

With the creation of 181 new forces

Even after the official decision to join the group, it was difficult to make adjustments to the end over the names and personnel of the group.
While I was interviewing, the idea of ​​“policy before sticking to such a thing” wasn't coming up, but anyway, a new force of 120 members of the House of Representatives and 61 members of the House of Councilors was born.

With the view of the next House of Representatives election, voices are starting to appear as soon as possible.

There are criticisms such as “just a number” and “an ancestor return to the former Democratic Party”, but can we get the trigger of a reversal offensive against the ruling party with overwhelming seats? First of all, I would like to pay attention to the controversy of the extraordinary Diet.

Koji Okumi, reporter of the political department
Joined in 2011. After working for Akita Broadcasting Station, he has been in the political department since 16 years. Covered the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is currently in charge of the Constitutional Democratic Party.

Keisuke Sakuma, political reporter
Joined in 2012. After 17 years at the Fukushima Broadcasting Station, the political department. Currently, the reporter of Edano's representative of the Constitutional Democratic Party.

Emi Yonezu, political reporter
Joined in 2013. After 18 years at the Nagano Broadcasting Station, he was in the political department. Currently, the reporter of Tamaki representative of the National Democratic Party.