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Policy Speech by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda
to the 168th Session of the Diet
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Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda delivered a policy speech to a plenary session of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors at the 168th session of the Diet.
At the outset, Prime Minister Fukuda expressed his determination by saying, "I am bracing myself up, in keen awareness of the gravity of taking charge of the government, at a time when we face a period of great change. Putting first and foremost Japan's future development and the stability of people's lives, I will do my utmost to discharge my duties." Then he continued, "I should like to apologize to all members of the Diet and the entire nation for having inconvenienced the conduct of Diet affairs due to the holding of the LDP presidential election, and I am resolved to make sincere efforts to respond to the Diet." Then the Prime Minister said, "Without the trust of the people, it is impossible to realize any policies or achieve any necessary reforms. Recovering the trust in politics and in the administration is an urgent task," and he expressed his intention to address the issue of political funding and advance reform of the public service system and the administrative and financial reform in order to recover the trust in politics and in the administration. On the social security system, the Prime Minister said, "We need to develop a social security system that serves the interest of the people and remains sustainable into the future and that gives everyone, including the elderly and the young, a sense of reassurance," and outlined measures for developing a trustworthy system. In addition, the Prime Minister laid out the Government's policies on shifting to politics that put priority on the safety and security of the people, realizing a society that supports child-raising, continuing to advance reform and achieving stable growth, response to the issues of "disparities," converting to a society that respects the environment for the future, and diplomacy which contributes to peace. In conclusion, the Prime Minister said, "In continuing to advance reforms, I will implement policies based on the principle of "self-reliance and mutual cooperation." I will conduct politics with warm compassion, based on the concept that it is necessary for the young and elderly people, big companies and small and medium enterprises, and cities and rural areas, to respect each other, and support and help each other, while maintaining the principle of self-help. I am convinced that this will lead us to a country of "hope and reassurance," where the young people have hope for the future and the elderly people have a sense of reassurance."
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