April 5, 2000

Kiyoshi SASAMORI
General Secretary
Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO)

The new cabinet inherited its members from the Obuchi cabinet.

How we will determine our attitude toward the political power depends on which policies will be implemented. At present, we will pay attention to how the new cabinet will tackle the current tasks such as the creation of employment, the workers' protection law followed by reorganisation of corporations and a complete reform of medical system. This is against a background of under prolonged recession and worst record of unemployment. Should it succeed same political attitude as the Obuchi cabinet which forced the pension reform for the worst, ignoring people's views, we have to challenge them severely.

The Liberal Democratic Party changed its coalition partners three times under the Obuchi cabinet from the Liberal party, Liberal party and Komei Party, and Komei Party and Conservative Party this time, without receiving the consent of the nation.

The Mori Cabinet should dissolve the national assembly and ask the nation to decide based upon an election based on the rule of parliamentary democracy. They should not continue the politics which make a parliamentary majority, continuing its policies and political vagueness.

RENGO strongly demands that the Mori cabinet dissolves the national assembly and calls a general election as soon as possible. At the same time RENGO will work with its full strength to realise policies which workers want, such as employment measures, social insurance policies, etc.