DPJ to enhance safety nets, reform tax after taking power: Ozawa

[ShintoCanadianmale]

DPJ to enhance safety nets, reform tax after taking power: Ozawa
Monday 22nd September, 06:53 AM JST

TOKYO —
Main opposition Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa said Sunday he will stake his political career on taking power at the next general election as he unveiled his policy platform featuring enhancing social safety nets and drastically reforming the use of tax revenues. ‘‘I will stake my political life on this fight and devote everything to creating a new life for the people,’’ Ozawa, 66, said after his reelection as DPJ chief for another two-year term was endorsed at an extraordinary party convention in Tokyo.

Ozawa, who was assured of reelection for a third term Sept 8 after no one else filed candidacy, also said he will retain the DPJ’s current executives because the House of Representatives general election appears to be close at hand. ‘‘If we continue to leave unfair disparities (in society), the economy will in due course become dysfunctional and Japanese society will collapse,’’ Ozawa told hundreds of colleagues at the convention. ‘‘We must terminate the administration of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito party as early as possible for the people.’’

He also stressed the need to reform Japan’s bureaucrat-led governing system and to create a ‘‘sensitive Japanese-style safety net’’ based on the basic policy proposals he announced when filing for candidacy.


DPJ to enhance safety nets, reform tax after taking power: Ozawa