Provisional translation

Press Conference by Yoshimi Watanabe,Minister for Financial Services

(Excerpt)

June 24, 2008

[Opening Remarks by Minister Watanabe]

Good morning.

After today’s cabinet meeting, I talked with the Prime Minister about personnel appointments for the secretariat of the headquarters for the promotion of the reform of the national civil servant system.

For my part, I expressed my wish to make selection through public invitation on the ground that it would strengthen the Prime Minister’s authority over personnel appointments. However, the Prime Minister told me that he will appoint all staff of the headquarters’ secretariat himself, so public invitation was abandoned.

He made it clear that the traditional method of appointing personnel will not be allowed. Also, he said he will consult with the minister in charge about personnel appointments.
This is all I have to report to you.

[Questions and Answers]

Q.

How do you feel about the outcome you talked about just now? Do you think that it cannot be helped?

A.

The Prime Minister has the final say over all matters concerning personnel affairs. I think that he wants to have his thinking reflected in the appointment, rather than opting for selection through public invitation.

Q.

My question concerns the same issue. You have been saying all along that you do not understand why public invitation should be opposed. Did your talks with the Prime Minister satisfy you on that point?

A.

The Prime Minister has the final say over personnel affairs. I pointed out various merits of public invitation, such as that it would strengthen the Prime Minister’s authority over personnel affairs and that it would help to attract personnel from wide and afar. The Prime Minister apparently has strong feelings about this reform promotion headquarters. He insisted that he will decide the appointment of all its staff and promised not to assemble a scratch team of members from various government organizations as has been done traditionally, so I respect his decision.

Q.

Members of the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) and other people have expressed concern that appointments may be made through collegial arrangements within ministries. Do you think that the Prime Minster’s decision will dispel such concern?

A.

As the Prime Minister has said that the traditional method of appointing personnel will not be allowed, I think that such collegial arrangements will be gone.

Q.

I understand that in addition to public invitation, you have advocated the idea of appointing around half of the staff from the private sector. What is the Prime Minister’s view on the appointment of private-sector people?

A.

We will discuss that later.

Q.

Is he positive or negative on that?

A.

I have strongly requested him to appoint people from the private sector.

Q.

What was his response?

A.

He said he will make a final decision himself.

Q.

Regarding public invitation, even if the Prime Minister makes decisions on personnel appointments, it is unclear how we will know whether collegial arrangements have been abandoned. What do you think?

A.

As I said earlier, the Prime Minister made it clear that the traditional method of assembling a scratch team of members from various ministries-this is what you say is a “collegial arrangement” as I understand it -will not be allowed, so I believe his words.

Q.

Did he divulge his plans for personnel appointments to you today? Did he mention any specific names?

A.

He did not mention any specific names.

Q.

You said that the Prime Minister will consult with the minister in charge about personnel appointments. Are you in a position to recommend candidates? Or will he consult with you after making up his own mind?

A.

I think that I may submit a list of candidates.

Q.

You have indicated that it is desirable to appoint someone from the private sector as the secretary-general of the headquarters. When you talked with the Prime Minister today, did he indicate an intention to do so? Did he make any reference to that point?

A.

Our talks did not go into such details. In any case, I strongly requested him to appoint someone from the private sector.

Q.

Regarding the matter of scheduling, the secretariat must be established by early July. Does the Prime Minister intend to select all staff, including the secretary-general by that time?

A.

That would be the natural thing to do.

Q.

I will ask this to make sure. Has public invitation also been abandoned regarding the appointment of senior officials other than the secretary-general?

A.

It has been abandoned completely.

Q.

Regarding your talks with the Prime Minister - they lasted about 20 or 30 minutes -I would appreciate if you would describe, within possible limits, your exchange of words.

A.

I have nothing more to tell you than what I told you earlier.

Q.

Did the Prime Minister say anything about why he has decided to make all personnel appointments himself, rather than using public invitation?

A.

He wants to choose the right people for the right posts. It seemed to me that he has very strong feelings about the reform of the civil servant system.

Q.

Do you have a plan to use public invitation for selecting the director-general of the planned personnel management agency?

A.

In light of the spirit and the philosophy of the basic act (for the reform of the national civil servant system), there are various areas where public invitation should be used. The basic act stipulates that numerical targets should be set for public invitation with regard to the staff of the National Vision Project Headquarters and aide staff of ministers as well as ministerial officials in posts higher than division directors, and I explained matters like this to the Prime Minister. Today, he made no reference to the post of the director-general of the cabinet personnel management agency.

(End)