The Hatoyama administration has told government ministries and agencies to stop, in principle, the holding of news conferences by administrative vice ministers, the top-ranking bureaucrats of government ministries. The thinking behind the decision is that Cabinet ministers are the top leaders of government ministries and agencies; therefore, administrative vice ministers should not behave as if the leadership role was theirs. The decision is part of the administration's effort to take the initiative for developing policies from the hands of bureaucrats.
The ban has since been loosened somewhat, but it could still restrict reporters' news-gathering activities, creating the danger that the government's decision-making process will become opaque or concealed. The ban could undermine people's right to know — the basis of democracy.
Regarding the long-entrenched practice of giving administrative vice ministers a chance to speak publicly about important policies, more demerits than merits have been observed, but Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama should have been advised to consider the decision more carefully.
It could be argued that in cases where vice ministers express different views from Cabinet ministers, the former may be scolded by the latter and told to correct previous statements, leading to public confusion. But mass media reports about such matters would in fact give people more knowledge of what's going on in the ministries and agencies, and thus should be regarded as a vital part of the democratic process. There is also the danger that bureaucrats will use the ban on vice ministers' news conferences as an excuse not to meet with reporters or answer their questions.
Facing criticism, Mr. Hatoyama said that government members are obliged to assist with news coverage. Although he will not allow regular news conferences by vice ministers, he will let them hold news conferences on emergency matters related to people's lives and property. This whole episode shows that the new administration may not fully understand how the media gather news and contribute to people's right to know.
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