Photo:President Washio made a speech after
concluding the agreement. (May 30, Tokyo)

With the general election close at hand, President Washio and other RENGO leaders met and talked with President Hatoyama and other members of the Democratic Party of Japan on May 30 at a hotel in Tokyo. They reached an agreement on basic policies that the working people seek such as employment, social security and so forth. During the talks, both sides agreed that in order to fulfill their basic policies, they would conduct election activities with the goal of changing the ruling body by radically reducing the Liberal Democratic Party's majority.

President Etsuya Washio, Deputy President Tsuneo Enomoto, Secretary General Kiyoshi Sasamori and others from RENGO attended the meeting along with the members of the Democratic Party of Japan; President Yukio Hatoyama, Secretary General Tsutomu Hata, Comprehensive Election Headquarters Secretary General Hiroshi Kumagai. Both parties agreed on seven basic policy items including economy/employment, welfare/social security, gender equality, environment, and so forth. Presidents Washio and Hatoyama each signed the agreement. In his speech after the conclusion of agreement, President Hatoyama of the Democratic Party of Japan offered an appeal for the resolution of the general election saying, "this policy agreement with RENGO is most gratifying. We do our utmost to gain power to faithfully fulfill the agreement." In response, President Washio promised his support stating, "we will deepen discussions based on a relationship of mutual trust, and carry out activities to achieve our policies. RENGO is anxious to backup the Democratic Party with all our might so that the DP may gain power.