North Korea launched ballistic missiles on the day campaigning officially started for the 49th House of Representatives election, serving as a reminder of the situation surrounding Japan.
In the lower house election, the public gets to choose the prime minister and the government by casting votes for party candidates and the party.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner Komeito want voters to express confidence in Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has just assumed office, aiming for a continuation of their coalition government.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party, and the Japanese Communist Party have agreed to "cooperate in a limited manner" if they take power.
The next government has a mountain of issues that need to be addressed.
While the number of novel coronavirus cases is decreasing, it is necessary to improve and expand the medical system, including securing hospital beds for COVID-19 patients. It is also important to present a path toward the resumption of economic activities by utilizing vaccination certificates and other tools.
Japan's potential growth rate, an indicator of the strength of the economy, continues to be below 1%, which is sluggish compared to other countries.
Kishida said he wants to create a "new form of capitalism" that will put the Japanese economy back on a growth track, redistribute wealth and rectify income disparities.
For the time being, government bonds will be the source of funds for the growth strategy and redistribution, but fiscal consolidation must not be forgotten.
Government finances are in turmoil, with the ratio of debts of central and local governments to the nation's gross domestic product at the worst levels among advanced nations.
All baby boomers will be 75 or older by 2025. Social security expenditures are likely to increase further.
Opposition parties, including the CDPJ, are touting policies that emphasize wealth redistribution, such as reducing consumption tax and income tax. If they are aiming for a change of government, they should also present responsible proposals regarding the nation's finances.
North Korea's test launches of new ballistic and cruise missiles have raised threat levels. The confrontation between the United States and China has intensified, and China has repeatedly intruded into Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands. Strengthening Japan's deterrence is an urgent task. Continuity in foreign and security policy will be crucial.
The CDPJ said the Japan-U.S. alliance is a cornerstone of Japanese foreign and security policy, but it will cooperate with the JCP, which calls for the abolition of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. What would that mean for the nation's foreign and security policy?
Voter turnout is also a major concern. After World War II, voter turnout in lower house elections hovered in the upper 60% to 70% range, but since the introduction of the current electoral system at the beginning of the Heisei era (1989-2019), turnout has fallen to the 50% range.
In the election before last, it reached a postwar low of 52.66% in the single-seat constituency segment, and it was almost the same level in the last election.
If voter turnout declines further, we, the voters, will be largely responsible. We should participate in the upcoming election, the first election to choose a government in the Reiwa era.
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