Confusion over highway tolls the latest drama by bungling Hatoyama gov't
風知草：ハイウエーの憂うつ＝山田孝男
The rift between Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara and Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa is a wide-open secret. And while the discord between the two appeared to flare up over the issue of highway tolls last week, there were plenty of goings-on prior to the recent spat.
前原誠司と小沢一郎の不仲は公然の秘密である。先週、高速道路の通行料をめぐって火花が散ったが、ドラマには隠された前編があった。
On the afternoon of Dec. 24, 2009, a secret meeting took place at the Prime Minister's Office. The main actors in attendance were Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, Maehara, and Ozawa's right-hand man, DPJ Senior Vice Secretary General Yoshimitsu Takashima.
昨年１２月２４日午後、首相官邸で首相動静には載らない秘密会合が開かれた。主な出席者は首相、官房長官、国土交通相（前原）と小沢の腹心・高嶋良充民主党副幹事長である。
In a petition submitted earlier to the prime minister, Ozawa had appealed for a change in the toll discount system so that funds left over as a result could be used toward the construction of new highways -- undoubtedly as a ploy to secure the DPJ's victory in the upcoming Upper House election.
小沢は、あらかじめ首相に提出した要望書で、料金割引制度の設計を変更し、浮いたカネで高速道路の建設を促進するよう求めていた。言わずもがな、参院選対策である。
The purpose of the December meeting was to confirm the government's intention over the party's request. In the written agreement was a section that said: "the national government will provide support to expressway companies" with regards to future maintenance and development of highways. This could be interpreted as an obligation of the government to pump public funds into the construction of unprofitable roads.
会合の目的は党の要望に対する政府の意思確認だった。合意文書案の中に、今後の高速道路整備では「国が高速道路会社に対し支援する」というくだりがあった。不採算路線でも税金をつぎ込む、と読める。
Takashima pressed the other participants to sign the agreement, but Maehara refused and left the meeting. Hirano and Takashima signed.
高嶋が署名を促したが、前原は拒んで席を立った。署名は官房長官と副幹事長がした。
The DPJ took over the reins of government with the promise to realize toll-free highways. In the face of current financial difficulties, however, this has yet to be realized. The government has instituted free tolls in limited areas as "social experiments" meant to illuminate the effects of toll-free highways, but these have turned to be pitiful in magnitude due to inadequate funds. If the DPJ-led government were to begin building unprofitable roads now, it would be taking back its election platform to value "people above concrete."
民主党の公約は「高速道路は原則無料化」だが、財政難には勝てない。部分実施の「社会実験」で影響を探ることにしたが、その実験も予算不足でチャチなものになった。まして不採算路線建設なら「コンクリートから人へ」の看板が泣く。
Maehara reluctantly began preparing a law amendment that would funnel funds from the discount system to the construction of roads. A mercilessly scaled-back toll-free experiment was announced on Feb. 2. The planned replacement of the 1,000-yen maximum toll with a maximum 2,000-yen one was announced on April 9.
前原はしぶしぶ、料金割引の財源を道路建設に回すための法改正を準備した。無残に縮小された無料化実験路線の発表が２月２日。「上限１０００円」の通行料割引をやめ、「上限２０００円」にするという発表が４月９日である。
Part two of the drama began on April 21 with Ozawa's visit to the Prime Minister's Office for an official discussion with ruling coalition leaders, Hatoyama, and Hirano. "A raise in tolls is unacceptable," barked Ozawa. Maehara was not in attendance.
ドラマの後編は先週２１日、小沢が官邸に乗り込む場面から始まった。与党幹部と首相、官房長官との公式協議だ。「値上げはダメだ」と小沢がほえた。前原はいなかった。
According to the current toll discount that was developed during the reign of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito coalition government, there is a 1,000-yen cap on weekend and holiday tolls for ETC-equipped cars. From June, however, Maehara says the toll cap will be raised to 2,000 yen for all days of the week for all cars -- including those without ETCs.
自公政権で始まった今の通行料割引は、普通車の場合、「ＥＴＣ（自動料金収受システム）搭載なら、休日に限り、どこまで走っても１０００円」だ。それが６月から「ＥＴＣなしでも、休日でも平日でも、上限２０００円」になる。
The new toll system would make long-distance travel on weekdays feel comparatively cheaper, but at the same time increase the burden for cars traveling shorter distances. Small trucking companies that mostly serve limited areas expressed strong opposition to the plan. And with the House of Councillors election expected to take place in July, DPJ legislators began making noise, which led Ozawa to take action.
参院選は７月。新料金は、平日の長距離利用で割安感が出る半面、近距離利用は負担が増える。近場で稼ぐ中小のトラック業者の間に反発が広がった。民主党の国会議員が騒ぎだし、小沢が動いた。
Ozawa's actions could be consistent or not, depending on how you look at them. On one hand, the new toll system came into being because of Ozawa's push for highway construction even if it meant shaving money off of funds allotted for toll discounts. To criticize the new plan obviously contradicts this.
小沢の言動は、一方から見れば矛盾しており、他方から見れば一貫している。新料金は「料金割引の財源を削ってでも高速道路をつくれ」という小沢の意向から生まれた。自ら覆すのは矛盾に違いない。
One the other hand, however, Ozawa has consistently placed priority on elections more than anything else. Through last year's regime change, Ozawa had won over the Japan Trucking Association. But it would all be for naught if it does not translate into more votes for the DPJ in the Upper House election. This is all that concerns Ozawa.
だが、選挙至上主義という点では一貫している。小沢は政権交代を通じてトラック協会を味方につけた。せっかくの仕掛けも参院選で動かなければ意味がない。小沢はその一点だけを見つめている。
The day after Ozawa visited the Prime Minister's Office, Maehara also met with Hatoyama, where he received the prime minister's approval for his intention "at this point" not to review the new toll plan. The fact that Maehara used the words "at this point" has some observers predicting that he will eventually give in to Ozawa and call off the June toll change.
ドラマは終わっていない。小沢が官邸を訪れた翌日、前原も首相に会い、「現時点では（新料金は）見直さない」と伝えて了承を得た。「現時点では」と断るからには、いずれ小沢に屈するのだろう、６月の料金変更も見送りではないかという観測が流れている。
In the never-ending drama being played out by the bungling Hatoyama government, the latest confusion over highways has served as new fodder for the media.
高速道路をめぐる混乱は、何も決まらない「鳩山劇場」のサエない新ネタとしてマスコミをにぎわせている。
Is the election-mindedness of the exceptionally "iron-armed" secretary-general a glimmer of hope for the revitalization of Japan, or a delusion of someone in power?
例外的に果断な剛腕幹事長の選挙至上主義は日本再生の希望か、権力掌握の妄執か。
There is a possibility that on Tuesday, a Prosecution Inquest Committee will rule on prosecutors' earlier decision not to indict Ozawa on charges of violating the Political Funds Control Law. The drama continues. (By Takao Yamada, Expert Senior Writer)
週明けの２７日、検察審査会が、政治資金規正法違反事件をめぐる小沢の不起訴処分の当否を判断する可能性がある。政界の緊張が高まっている。（敬称略）（毎週月曜日掲載）
(Mainichi Japan) April 26, 2010
毎日新聞 2010年4月26日 東京朝刊
風知草：ハイウエーの憂うつ＝山田孝男
The rift between Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara and Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa is a wide-open secret. And while the discord between the two appeared to flare up over the issue of highway tolls last week, there were plenty of goings-on prior to the recent spat.
前原誠司と小沢一郎の不仲は公然の秘密である。先週、高速道路の通行料をめぐって火花が散ったが、ドラマには隠された前編があった。
On the afternoon of Dec. 24, 2009, a secret meeting took place at the Prime Minister's Office. The main actors in attendance were Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, Maehara, and Ozawa's right-hand man, DPJ Senior Vice Secretary General Yoshimitsu Takashima.
昨年１２月２４日午後、首相官邸で首相動静には載らない秘密会合が開かれた。主な出席者は首相、官房長官、国土交通相（前原）と小沢の腹心・高嶋良充民主党副幹事長である。
In a petition submitted earlier to the prime minister, Ozawa had appealed for a change in the toll discount system so that funds left over as a result could be used toward the construction of new highways -- undoubtedly as a ploy to secure the DPJ's victory in the upcoming Upper House election.
小沢は、あらかじめ首相に提出した要望書で、料金割引制度の設計を変更し、浮いたカネで高速道路の建設を促進するよう求めていた。言わずもがな、参院選対策である。
The purpose of the December meeting was to confirm the government's intention over the party's request. In the written agreement was a section that said: "the national government will provide support to expressway companies" with regards to future maintenance and development of highways. This could be interpreted as an obligation of the government to pump public funds into the construction of unprofitable roads.
会合の目的は党の要望に対する政府の意思確認だった。合意文書案の中に、今後の高速道路整備では「国が高速道路会社に対し支援する」というくだりがあった。不採算路線でも税金をつぎ込む、と読める。
Takashima pressed the other participants to sign the agreement, but Maehara refused and left the meeting. Hirano and Takashima signed.
高嶋が署名を促したが、前原は拒んで席を立った。署名は官房長官と副幹事長がした。
The DPJ took over the reins of government with the promise to realize toll-free highways. In the face of current financial difficulties, however, this has yet to be realized. The government has instituted free tolls in limited areas as "social experiments" meant to illuminate the effects of toll-free highways, but these have turned to be pitiful in magnitude due to inadequate funds. If the DPJ-led government were to begin building unprofitable roads now, it would be taking back its election platform to value "people above concrete."
民主党の公約は「高速道路は原則無料化」だが、財政難には勝てない。部分実施の「社会実験」で影響を探ることにしたが、その実験も予算不足でチャチなものになった。まして不採算路線建設なら「コンクリートから人へ」の看板が泣く。
Maehara reluctantly began preparing a law amendment that would funnel funds from the discount system to the construction of roads. A mercilessly scaled-back toll-free experiment was announced on Feb. 2. The planned replacement of the 1,000-yen maximum toll with a maximum 2,000-yen one was announced on April 9.
前原はしぶしぶ、料金割引の財源を道路建設に回すための法改正を準備した。無残に縮小された無料化実験路線の発表が２月２日。「上限１０００円」の通行料割引をやめ、「上限２０００円」にするという発表が４月９日である。
Part two of the drama began on April 21 with Ozawa's visit to the Prime Minister's Office for an official discussion with ruling coalition leaders, Hatoyama, and Hirano. "A raise in tolls is unacceptable," barked Ozawa. Maehara was not in attendance.
ドラマの後編は先週２１日、小沢が官邸に乗り込む場面から始まった。与党幹部と首相、官房長官との公式協議だ。「値上げはダメだ」と小沢がほえた。前原はいなかった。
According to the current toll discount that was developed during the reign of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito coalition government, there is a 1,000-yen cap on weekend and holiday tolls for ETC-equipped cars. From June, however, Maehara says the toll cap will be raised to 2,000 yen for all days of the week for all cars -- including those without ETCs.
自公政権で始まった今の通行料割引は、普通車の場合、「ＥＴＣ（自動料金収受システム）搭載なら、休日に限り、どこまで走っても１０００円」だ。それが６月から「ＥＴＣなしでも、休日でも平日でも、上限２０００円」になる。
The new toll system would make long-distance travel on weekdays feel comparatively cheaper, but at the same time increase the burden for cars traveling shorter distances. Small trucking companies that mostly serve limited areas expressed strong opposition to the plan. And with the House of Councillors election expected to take place in July, DPJ legislators began making noise, which led Ozawa to take action.
参院選は７月。新料金は、平日の長距離利用で割安感が出る半面、近距離利用は負担が増える。近場で稼ぐ中小のトラック業者の間に反発が広がった。民主党の国会議員が騒ぎだし、小沢が動いた。
Ozawa's actions could be consistent or not, depending on how you look at them. On one hand, the new toll system came into being because of Ozawa's push for highway construction even if it meant shaving money off of funds allotted for toll discounts. To criticize the new plan obviously contradicts this.
小沢の言動は、一方から見れば矛盾しており、他方から見れば一貫している。新料金は「料金割引の財源を削ってでも高速道路をつくれ」という小沢の意向から生まれた。自ら覆すのは矛盾に違いない。
One the other hand, however, Ozawa has consistently placed priority on elections more than anything else. Through last year's regime change, Ozawa had won over the Japan Trucking Association. But it would all be for naught if it does not translate into more votes for the DPJ in the Upper House election. This is all that concerns Ozawa.
だが、選挙至上主義という点では一貫している。小沢は政権交代を通じてトラック協会を味方につけた。せっかくの仕掛けも参院選で動かなければ意味がない。小沢はその一点だけを見つめている。
The day after Ozawa visited the Prime Minister's Office, Maehara also met with Hatoyama, where he received the prime minister's approval for his intention "at this point" not to review the new toll plan. The fact that Maehara used the words "at this point" has some observers predicting that he will eventually give in to Ozawa and call off the June toll change.
ドラマは終わっていない。小沢が官邸を訪れた翌日、前原も首相に会い、「現時点では（新料金は）見直さない」と伝えて了承を得た。「現時点では」と断るからには、いずれ小沢に屈するのだろう、６月の料金変更も見送りではないかという観測が流れている。
In the never-ending drama being played out by the bungling Hatoyama government, the latest confusion over highways has served as new fodder for the media.
高速道路をめぐる混乱は、何も決まらない「鳩山劇場」のサエない新ネタとしてマスコミをにぎわせている。
Is the election-mindedness of the exceptionally "iron-armed" secretary-general a glimmer of hope for the revitalization of Japan, or a delusion of someone in power?
例外的に果断な剛腕幹事長の選挙至上主義は日本再生の希望か、権力掌握の妄執か。
There is a possibility that on Tuesday, a Prosecution Inquest Committee will rule on prosecutors' earlier decision not to indict Ozawa on charges of violating the Political Funds Control Law. The drama continues. (By Takao Yamada, Expert Senior Writer)
週明けの２７日、検察審査会が、政治資金規正法違反事件をめぐる小沢の不起訴処分の当否を判断する可能性がある。政界の緊張が高まっている。（敬称略）（毎週月曜日掲載）
(Mainichi Japan) April 26, 2010
毎日新聞 2010年4月26日 東京朝刊
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