 |
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was created in 1998, when reform-minded politicians from a number of opposition parties came together with the aim of establishing a genuine opposition force capable of taking power from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Former Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata, current President (now Prime Minister) Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan (now Deputy Prime Minister) were amongst those instrumental in establishing the new party. Since then the DPJ has grown in size at successive elections, and the party was further strengthened by a merger with the Liberal Party, led by Ichiro Ozawa, in 2003. It is now the ruling party in Japan, with a total of 308 seats in the House of Representatives and 109 in the House of Councillors.
In contrast to the LDP, which is almost entirely dependent on the bureaucracy for policy-making, the DPJ is a party dominated by young professionals, including bureaucrats, lawyers, doctors, aid workers, bankers, and journalists, who are able to draw on a wide variety of experience in formulating policy proposals. As a result, DPJ politicians have introduced a large number of independent members’ bills. The party places a strong emphasis on the speedy implementation of across-the-board reform and the creation of a fairer and more inclusive social environment in Japan. The DPJ was instrumental in introducing the manifesto (party platform) to Japanese politics, marking the initiation of genuine policy debate.
The DPJ places particular importance on shifting from a political system dominated by central-government bureaucrats to one in which politicians and local communities play a leading role, and on strengthening the safety net to reduce widening disparities. Specific policy proposals include providing a monthly child allowance of ¥26,000 per child until graduation from junior high school; moving from a system of tied subsidies to one of providing independent budgets to the regions; making the majority of the highway network toll-free; and introducing an individual household income support system to assist farmers.
Following a strong showing in the 2003 general election and the 2004 House of Councillors election the DPJ suffered a setback in the general election of September 2005. The party regrouped to win a large number of seats in the 2007 House of Councillors election, becoming the dominant force in the Upper House. Under the leadership of Yukio Hatoyama, the DPJ won a landslide victory in the 2009 general election, bringing about the first change of government in Japan under a two-party system since WWII.
Detailed Chronological History of the DPJ
|
|
|
