US Presidential Election Begins: Relay Policies to the International Community

Published in Kyoto Shimbun
(Japan) on 4 February 2016
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stephanie Chiu. Edited by Rachel Pott.
Who will triumph in this long race? With their eyes on the presidential election in November, both the Democratic and Republican parties have begun the battle to nominate their candidates.

The policies the next leader of the U.S. will develop are of great interest to the international community. What will the U.S. be like after the Obama administration? For what goals should they aim? I would like each party to have a productive discussion on these topics and relay their thoughts to the world.

In the first fight of the Iowa caucus, the Democratic Party was caught in an even battle between Sen. Sanders, the self-proclaimed “Democratic Socialist,” and former Secretary of State Clinton, the acknowledged favorite.

Clinton, who's aiming to become the first female president, is known to have covered all her bases and established her superiority through the might of her organizational power, financial muscle, political experience and more. Her proposal involves succeeding the Obama administration on health insurance and gun control, but she’s shackled by political distrust. Facing off against her is Sanders, who flies a flag painted in strongly liberal colors, and who has made a fresh impression on youth who think the Obama administration's social policies are insufficient.

On the other side, where the Republican Party aims to recapture the administration, Sen. Cruz has taken control of the first match with his steady campaigning. As a diehard conservative, who has even criticized the leadership of his own party, he’s narrowly won out over Mr. Trump, a businessman who’s spoken bluntly and radically on immigration bans and – until this point – maintained first place in approval ratings.

I’d like to call attention to Sen. Rubio as well, who’s cut into this close contest and fought a good fight. The three each have their own distinct styles; the key is whether or not Sen. Rubio can rally the main faction of the party.

Even in unstable situations, U.S. citizens have thus far avoided radical candidates who might implement difficult policies, and made realistic choices instead. This time, both parties have fringe groups that have gained an exceptional amount of strength. I wonder if we can say this situation comes from the many citizens who harbor great discontentment toward the existing government and present inequality, and who wish for a new administration.

That said, the race has just begun. Primaries and caucuses extend beyond the March 1 "Super Tuesday," passing into the party conventions in July.

At the same time, the U.S. has a wide range of issues to resolve, from the war on terror, which has continued for 15 years after repeated terrorist attacks, to immigration and refugee policies, to economic disparity.

Above all, in an international community with considerably declined U.S. leadership, we ask what diplomatic and security measures the U.S. will take in response to Russia’s unyielding attitude and China’s steadily rising prominence. They must also prescribe solutions for the increasingly unstable world economy. Talking about only internal issues is inexcusable.

What will the U.S. look like after two terms and eight years of the Obama administration? The world is watching each and every move made by those aiming to become the new president.


米大統領選始動  国際社会へ政策発信を

 誰が長いレースを勝ち抜くのだろうか。11月の米大統領選に向けて、民主、共和両党の候補指名争いの火ぶたが切られた。
 米国の次期リーダーがどんな政策を展開するのかは国際社会の大きな関心事である。オバマ政権後の米国のあり方や目指すべき方向について、実りある論戦で各自の政治信条を世界に発信してほしい。
 初戦のアイオワ州党員集会で、民主党は「民主社会主義者」を自任するサンダース上院議員が、本命と目されるクリントン前国務長官と互角の戦いに持ち込んだ。
 初の女性大統領を目指すクリントン氏は組織や資金力、政治経験などで優位に立ち、盤石との下馬評だった。医療保険や銃規制などでオバマ政治の継承を訴えたが、政治不信が足かせとなった。対してサンダース氏はリベラル色の強い政策を掲げ、オバマ政権の社会政策が不十分だと考える若年層に新鮮な印象を与えたとみられる。
 一方、政権奪還を狙う共和党は、党指導部とも敵対してきた保守強硬派のクルーズ上院議員が地道な選挙運動で初戦を制した。移民排斥など歯に衣(きぬ)着せぬ過激発言で支持率首位を維持してきた実業家トランプ氏は僅差で破れた。
 この接戦に割り込んだルビオ上院議員の善戦も注目したい。三つどもえの構図が鮮明になり、ルビオ氏が党主流派を結集する存在になれるかどうかが鍵となる。
 米国民はこれまで、左右多少の振れ幅はあっても実現が難しそうな政策を掲げる過激な候補を避け、より現実的な選択をしてきた。今回、両党いずれも反主流派候補が勢いづいているのは極めて異例だ。既存の政治や格差のしわ寄せに強い不満を抱く国民の多くが新しい政治を求めている兆しと言えようか。
 とはいえレースは始まったばかりだ。予備選・党員集会は来月1日の「スーパーチューズデー」を経て7月の党大会まで続く。
 米国同時多発テロを発端に15年にも及ぶテロとの戦いの収束、移民・難民政策、経済格差など争点は多岐にわたる。
 とりわけ国際社会で米国のリーダーシップの低下は著しく、強硬姿勢のロシアや台頭する中国などに対する外交・安全保障政策も問われる。不安定化する世界経済の処方箋を示す必要もある。内向きの議論だけでは済まない。
 2期8年間のオバマ政権後、どんな米国像を描くのか。新大統領を目指す面々の一挙手一投足を世界が注視している。
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