| Okada re-elected, DPJ reaffirms strong resolution to bring about a change of government |
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On September 13, the DPJ held an extraordinary party convention in Tokyo to celebrate the selection of the new party leader, in which it was announced that Katsuya Okada had been re-elected unopposed as President. In order to strengthen the party structure towards the goal of seizing power, the party regulations were amended to include the establishment of a Government Strategy Committee (tentative translation), and the post of Chair of the Standing Officers Council, and a new party executive headed by President Okada was announced.
First-term Diet members of the House of Representatives Hirofumi Ryu and Kazue Fujita chaired the main session, which began with greetings from the Chair of the convention organisation committee, Ritsuo Hosokawa, who called upon the assembled audience to "make this a powerful convention that will bring us within sight of a change of government and help us to obtain victory in the deciding battle of this political war" Following this, outgoing Secretary General Hirohisa Fujii proposed a list of amendments to the party regulations.
The amendments basically consisted of five proposals: 1. the establishment of a Government Strategy Committee (tentative translation), 2. the creation of the new post of Chair of the Standing Officers Council, 3. the relaxation of conditions for calling for a general meeting of DPJ members, 4. the establishment of the block discussion forums as official party institutions, and 5. the establishment of a political school. Following some debate, the proposals were approved by a full round of applause.
Next, the 32 new Diet members who were elected at the recent House of Councillors election (including non-DPJ candidates recommended or backed by the DPJ) were introduced, and Shinya Adachi, who was elected from Oita district, gave a speech on behalf of the new members, in which he expressed their firm determination "to make strenuous efforts in the belief that the hard work of new Diet members will be the catalyst for a change of government." His speech received a warm reception from the floor of the convention.
Following this, the Chair of the Central Presidential Election Committee Ritsuo Hosokawa described the details of the presidential election and, in accordance with the election rules, proposed the sole candidate, Katsuya Okada, for President. This proposal was approved by a full round of applause from the convention floor.
In his inauguration speech, President Okada emphasised that, "My sole mission during the next two years is to transform the DPJ into a people's party that can take up the burdens of Japanese politics, and to bring about a change of government." He suggested that three major challenges were the self-transformation of the party into one that could be trusted by the Japanese people, the creation of more detailed and solid policies, and the creation of a system that would lead to victory in the next general election and House of Councillors election. Okada added, "Now is the time that we must join together as one and share the common goals of realising a change of government and a politics that understands the position of the general public."
Finally President Okada announced the new line-ups for the party executive and the 'Next Cabinet', and these were approved by a round of applause. The convention ended with Okada leading the auditorium in three rousing cheers.
(04/09/13) |
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