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The PES congratulates Yukio Hatoyama on becoming Prime Minister of Japan on Wednesday.  His Democratic Party of Japan won an impressive electoral victory on 30th August, securing 327 of 480 seats in Japan’s lower house.  This marks a break from the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, which ruled Japan almost without interruption for more than 50 years.  Mr. Hatoyama has invited the Social Democratic Party and the People’s New Party to form the new coalition government.

The PES is very pleased with the results of the election and with Prime Minister Hatoyama assuming the top political position in Japan.  This shift to the centre-left reflects a wider trend around the world, notably with the victory of the Democrats in the United States last November, and more recently in Norway. 

Mr. Hatoyama has been critical of the “unrestrained market fundamentalism and financial capitalism” that has led Japan to its deepest recession since the end of the Second World War. He has committed to supporting green technologies and has pledged to reduce Japan’s carbon emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2020. He has promised to create a stronger social safety net, by improving health care and employment provisions, and by raising the minimum wage.  By putting people rather than businesses first, Hatoyama’s platform is similar with that of the PES. We support Prime Minister Hatoyama in implementing these reforms.

A PES delegation met with the Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party in May 2008 and encountered deep interest in working on issues related to financial markets, climate change, and global governance.
 
Commenting on Japan’s new government, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said: “This marks the dawn of a new era in Japan.  As two of the largest economies in the world, Japan and the EU must collaborate on important issues, such as the regulation of global financial markets.  Together, we can assure better job security and working conditions not only for Japanese and Europeans, but for people around the world.  The PES looks forward to a fruitful cooperation with Prime Minister Hatoyama and his government.”