On October 18, when the 155th Extraordinary Diet Session was convened, RENGO delegates led by General Secretary Kusano visited the Democratic Party of Japan headquarters (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) to deliver its demands. The delegates called on DPJ Secretary General Nakano to bring about comprehensive deflation measures, stabilize the financial system, and take measures for corporate restructuring. This activity was conducted in the wake of the "2002 Fall Activity Plan to Achieve RENGO Policies/Systems" which was endorsed at the 38th Central Committee Meeting. The plan has two points which are the pillars of the demand: (1) the compilation and enforcement of comprehensive anti-deflation measures, which include job measures and reviving consumer spending, (2) stabilization of the financial system by cleaning up defaulted loans and accelerating corporate reconstruction. RENGO plans to serve its policy demand activities on the following political parties: New Komeito Party on October 23, the Liberal Party on October 30, the Social Democratic Party on 30, and Liberal Democratic Party (pending).

 

Photo: Appeal to the DPJ to compile a supplementary budget to fight deflation.

When serving demands to DPJ Secretary General Nakano, RENGO General Secretary Kusano explained the sense of crisis over two points: (1) the high stagnant jobless rate and slow economy, (2) acceleration of disposal of the bad loans. He emphasized these points saying, "every effort must be made at any cost to avoid deflation and a safety net for employment must be prepared."
He criticized the Koizumi administration saying, "we hear words but see no action [measures] from the government." He added strongly "of course we must check the level of budget implementation but we still need to compile an emergency supplementary budget."
SG Nakano responded determinedly to the demands, "(we) consider this extraordinary Diet session to be the 'economic session.' (we) want a heated debate on job issues and countermeasures for small to mid-sized businesses."
At the opinion exchange GS Kusano stated that "unless we stop deflation, things may go wrong in every area." He stressed the necessity of a tax system and moderation of currency exchange rates as protection measures to halt the decline of commodity and land prices.