Hatoyama to 'take responsibility' if pledges unachieved in 4 yrs+

TOKYO, Oct. 28 Kyodo - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama declared Wednesday in the Diet that he will take political responsibility if people decide in four years that his government has failed to realize his Democratic Party of Japan's election pledges.

He also reiterated a policy of not raising the consumption tax from the current
5 percent for the time being, saying there is a need to first restore the
public's trust in politics before forcing them to pay more taxes.
''The manifesto is the contract with the people over the four years,'' Hatoyama
said during the first round of Diet interpellations since the extraordinary
session began this week. He was referring to the DPJ's campaign platform in the
Aug. 30 general election, in which the party swept to power.
''It goes without saying that I will take responsibility as a politician if
people think in four years that the coalition government has failed to
accomplish the policies laid out in the manifesto,'' he said.
The remarks came in response to questions posed in the House of Representatives
by opposition lawmakers, including Sadakazu Tanigaki, the new leader of the
main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, which was ousted from power in the
election after more than half a century of almost continuous rule.
Tanigaki criticized the government's budget requests for fiscal 2010, which
have amounted to more than 95 trillion yen -- a record in terms of the general
account -- calling it ''a bankrupt scenario that will swell outstanding public
debts.''
Hatoyama said his government will pour its efforts into implementing the
manifesto by cutting waste in expenditures and reprioritizing projects with a
view to securing enough funds for its policy initiatives.
''Although I think the economy is picking up slightly, it's extremely short on
self-sustenance, unemployment remains at a high level, and prospects for the
year-end are harsh,'' Hatoyama said in providing his observation on the
Japanese economy.
Implementing his government's initiatives, such as child allowances and the
scrapping of expressway tolls, while reducing expenditures, will replenish
household incomes, he said. ''Steadily implementing these policies will help
put the economy on the recovery track by spurring domestic demand.''
Hatoyama also warned against the ''economic growth first'' doctrine, saying
that his Cabinet is aiming for an economy that places emphasis on enriching
people's lives, rather than pursuing pure economic rationality.
Tanigaki noted that Hatoyama and his ministers appear to have divergent and
often conflicting views on the relocation of a U.S. military airfield in
Okinawa Prefecture, and warned that the situation could cause a rupture in
Japan-U.S. relations.
Hatoyama reiterated his intention to take time studying the 2006 bilateral
agreement on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, which spells out the
relocation plan, while heeding the opinions of the people of Okinawa.
''It goes without saying that it is I who will make the final decision,''
Hatoyama said, asking, ''Which government was it that failed to draw a
conclusion on the relocation issue for more than 10 years?''
On assisting Afghanistan, Hatoyama declared that Tokyo does not plan to revert
to ''checkbook diplomacy,'' which the country was criticized internationally as
having engaged in during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
Japan disbursed some $13 billion at the time but was rebuked for coming up
short on personnel contributions.
Hatoyama cautioned, however, that care will be taken in sending personnel to
Afghanistan even if Japan decides to provide civilian contributions, given the
dire security situation there.
On Tanigaki's demand that Hatoyama give the public a full account into a
political funds scandal the prime minister is embroiled in, Hatoyama said he
has instructed his office to cooperate fully with prosecutors in probing the
case.
''My biggest responsibility is to implement each policy based on the results of
the lower house election,'' Hatoyama said.
==Kyodo