Speech by Party President Shinzo Abe
In the 47th general election, the Party captured 291 seats, once again giving the ruling parties more than 2/3 of the total seats.
We were sent to the Diet by our constituents. We have an obligation to meet the expectations of the people and do everything in our power to achieve what we promised in the election.
The Liberal Democratic Party was formed on November 15, 1955, the year after I was born, and its first General Council Chairperson, Bukichi Miki, had his doubts about the viability of the conservative alliance that merged the Liberal Party with the Democratic Party, but we are here today to celebrate that Party's 60th anniversary.
At that time, we had been out of power for three years and three months, but under the leadership of then President Sadakazu Tanigaki, we were able to overcome that difficult period.
We were victorious first in a general election in which we promised to "take back Japan," and again in a House of Councillors election in which we promised to "resolve the discord between the upper and lower houses," and most recently in a general election that ratified "Abenomics" last year. In all of these cases, were able to win because we placed our highest priority on the economy.
During this time, the job offer rate for new graduates has increased to more than 80%, the job-to-applicant ratio is about 1.0, and last year, we recorded the highest wage increase in 15 years.
I made a clear promise to "protect agriculture in the TPP negotiations," and behind that was my special feeling for rural villages, those villages that have come to symbolize the tradition, culture, and beauty of Japan.
Agriculture is important to us and we must protect it, especially now as the farm population ages. Major reform is crucial in this area.
One of our key policies is "regional development," and it is the outlying areas rather than the central government, who must take the lead here. Local communities must come up with the ideas, and the central government will provide them with support in terms of both funding and human resources.
On March 11, we will mark the fourth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. We are still in the process of rebuilding the disaster area, and there have been delays in the recovery effort in Fukushima, but we have entered a new stage with the opening of all sections of the Joban Expressway.
This year is also the 70th anniversary of end of the World War II, and we must remember that Japan exists today because of the many sacrifices that were made at that time. The Party is committed to protecting the peace of Japan. We continue to make progress in the establishment of a legal framework for security that enables seamless response. We advocate "proactive contributions to peace" through international cooperation, and we are adamant about protecting our land, territorial waters, and airspace.
It is vital that we create an environment in which all women are able to make use of their skills and abilities and be active in the home, workplace, and community. We want to create a society in which women and young people, with all of their untapped potential, are likewise able to make use of their skills and abilities.
The Party is now preparing for the "nationwide local elections," and we are committed to victory. Morning has finally come to Japan, and we as a party will work as one to ensure that this new day continues to dawn.
