Political parties stressed the necessity of "distributing wealth" through such means as cash payments during the campaign for the House of Representatives election, but there was no in-depth debate over where the money for such measures would come from.
In the final stages of the campaign, ruling coalition partners the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito intensified their criticism of the united front created by opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party.
Prime Minister and LDP President Fumio Kishida stressed the "harmonization of economic growth and the redistribution of its fruits." In a street speech in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama Prefecture, on Saturday, Kishida said: "Opposition parties have repeatedly stressed distribution. The LDP will stimulate economic growth and [then] redistribute its fruits."
Yukio Edano, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, hit back at the LDP, saying that priority should be given to stimulating domestic consumption through the distribution of wealth. In a public speech in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Saturday, Edano said: "They could not realize any economic growth during the administration led by [then Prime Minister Shinzo] Abe nor during the one led by [Abe's successor, Yoshihide] Suga. The first step that needs to be taken toward economic growth is fair and equitable redistribution."
Major parties have all emphasized the necessity of reinforcing the distribution of wealth, with the CDPJ and Komeito, for instance, proposing cash payments to families with small children and low-income earners. The LDP also has called for economic assistance for vulnerable people, such as nonregular workers.
However, there was no debate regarding stable financial resources. Edano said, "The issuance of deficit-covering government bonds is inevitable."
Regarding measures to get the pandemic-battered economy back on track, however, the gaps between the parties were clear.
Kishida has expressed his eagerness to resume the government's Go To Travel campaign, which is designed to stimulate consumption. Ichiro Matsui, leader of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), backed Kishida's view, saying it would be effective in propelling consumption.
However, leaders of the CDPJ and the JCP have said they are cautious about an early resumption of the campaign. "A 'Go To PCR' [testing program] should come first," said Akira Koike, head of the JCP's Secretariat.
The ruling and opposition camps also exchanged pointed criticism of each other.
The LDP and Komeito attacked the united front formed by the CDPJ and the JCP. Former Prime Minister Abe said, "If the CDPJ, with the support of the JCP, were to assume power, the relationship of trust between Japan and the United States would be considerably damaged."
On the opposition side, Edano said, "Even if the cover [the leader of the party] has changed, the LDP has not changed at all [in substance]."
North Korea fired two ballistic missiles on Oct. 19, the day the lower house election campaign officially kicked off. Kishida appealed to the public, saying, "Which administration can move forward with diplomatic and national security policies that protect the people's lives and livelihoods?"
However, as a veteran member of the LDP said, "No issues related to foreign affairs, national security or constitutional amendment have become a major point of contention this time."
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