自民じみん総裁そうさい選せん 日本にっぽん記者きしゃクラブ討論とうろん会かいで論戦ろんせん【ノーカット動画どうがも】

The five candidates running in the LDP presidential election attended a public debate hosted by the Japan National Press Club on the 24th.

In the context of being a minority ruling party, all parties expressed a positive attitude toward expanding the framework of the coalition government, but differences emerged regarding the timing and approach to achieving it.

At the beginning, each of the five people presented their basic claims on the board.

Mr. Kobayashi: A sense that effort will be rewarded Former Minister for Economic Security Kobayashi said, A sense that effort will be rewarded

and made this claim.

And I believe that firmly supporting the working generation and the middle class, and making them feel that their hard work will be rewarded, will lead to further growth and make society even stronger.

Japans power is nowhere near this.

I want to work hard to put Japan at the center of the world, he appealed.

Mr. Motegi: Delivering the results the people want Former Secretary-General Motegi advocated the position of delivering the results the people want.

And, First of all, we will implement swift and effective policies, starting with immediate measures against rising prices and the abolition of the provisional gasoline tax rate.

Isnt creating a virtuous economic cycle and ensuring wage increases that outpace rising prices exactly what the people are seeking?

I will promptly put it into action, he asserted.

Mr. Hayashi: Pioneering the future with experience and achievements. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi advocated the slogan, Pioneering the future with experience and achievements.

And, The situation surrounding our party and Japan is by no means bright, but I want to believe in the saying, It is always darkest before the dawn.

We will all come together and overcome this difficult situation as one.

I want to help create a Japan where dawn is near, he appealed.

Takaichi: Toward Economic Growth through Strategic Crisis Management Investment Former Minister in charge of Economic Security, Takaichi, advocated the idea of achieving economic growth through strategic crisis management investment!

And now, the global trend is moving toward making solid public and private investments to minimize risks, and Japan should do the same.

Japan still has plenty of room to grow.

Protecting the safety of the people, taking growth into the future

He declared, I will do my best to make Japan the best in the world.

Mr. Koizumi: Inflation-Responsive Economic Management Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi advocated for inflation-responsive economic management.

And the current situation is that we are shifting from a period of deflation to inflation, and it is necessary to transform the economy.

First, as a measure against rising prices, abolish the provisional gasoline tax rate and raise the basic deduction for income tax and other deductions in line with increases in prices and wages, making them inflation-responsive.

He appealed for achieving an increase in national income that exceeds the rise in prices.

[Full video, uncut 1 hour 58 minutes] Not available via data broadcasting Debate over expanding the coalition framework Additionally, amid the minority ruling party, discussions were held on expanding the coalition framework. All five participants expressed a positive attitude, but differences emerged regarding the timing and approach to achieving it.

Mr. Kobayashi said, It is the ruling partys responsibility to create a stable political environment where decisions can be made, even as a minority government.

However, it’s not just about forming a coalition or making up the numbers—we need to share, to some extent, the fundamental ideas that will serve as the backbone of running the country.

As we sincerely engage with each individual policy, the coalition exists as a result.

▼Mr. Motegi said, Expanding the framework of the coalition is something I had been considering even before we became a minority ruling party, and I have taken various approaches.

The fundamental premise is that we are aligned in the same direction on basic policies.

If we start with electoral district adjustments, we probably wont be able to expand the coalition, he said.

Mr. Hayashi said, I did not say that a partial coalition is the only option, and coalition talks will proceed in parallel.

As someone who struggled with being a minority ruling party under the Ishiba administration, he said, First, as the Liberal Democratic Party, we should put together our policies and approach others by saying, Can’t we work together focusing on these things?

▼Takaichi said, Based on the LDP-Komeito coalition, plus alpha, we need to quickly and firmly establish a framework for a coalition government.

There are matters that require a swift response, and for next years budget planning as well as diplomacy, a stable administration is necessary, he said.

▼Mr. Koizumi said, Unless we strengthen the framework of the administration, we wont be able to generate the driving force needed to move issues forward.

It is certainly true that forming a coalition is one option, but that comes only after sincerely addressing the current issues of social security and rising prices, and building a relationship of trust with the opposition parties.

Diplomacy and Security: How to Deal with the Trump Administration In the area of diplomacy and security, there was a debate about how to deal with the Trump administration.

▼Mr. Kobayashi said, It was right that the Ishiba administration improved the treatment of Self-Defense Force personnel.

We are entering an era of warfare involving drones and AI robots, so research and development funding is necessary.

It is important to firmly cultivate Japans advanced technology and take an approach that makes Japan indispensable to the United States, he said.

▼Mr. Motegi said, It is extremely important for the leaders to build a relationship of trust.

He said, For the United States, China is the greatest challenge, and it is important to emphasize that Japan is the most important partner in confronting China, and to show a willingness to work together.

▼Mr. Hayashi said, Regardless of whether we like it or not, we cannot avoid having a relationship with our ally, the United States.

There is a strong possibility that an administration with the same views as President Trump could come to power again, so we need to manage Japan-U.S. relations while also building Japan-China relations, he said.

We must deepen security cooperation among Japan, the U.S., and South Korea, as well as among Japan, the U.S., and the Philippines, along with the Japan-U.S. alliance, said Ms. Takaichi.

China, Russia, and North Korea are drawing closer together in a critical situation, so Japan and South Korea will also deepen their relationship.

There are concerns regarding China, but we will approach the situation with a stance of engaging in frank and ongoing dialogue, he said.

▼Mr. Koizumi said, The Japan-U.S. relationship will remain the cornerstone of Japanese diplomacy even under President Trump, and I would like to realize a meeting at an early date so that we can elevate it to an even higher level.

The implementation of tariff negotiations is extremely important for building a win-win relationship between Japan and the United States, he said.

On the other hand, there were no objections to the Japanese governments policy of postponing the recognition of Palestine as a state at the timing of the UN General Assembly.

Questions for nominating candidates: In the four public debates, both Mr. Hayashi and Mr. Koizumi participated in a format where each candidate nominated another candidate to ask questions.

The people who received the most nominations were Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi, both with four times.

Next, former Minister for Economic Security Motoyuki Kobayashi and former Minister for Economic Security Sanae Takaichi each met three times, while former Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi met once.