In the 2009 Lower House election, the election manifesto of the Democratic Party of Japan played an important role in bringing the party to power. It contained goals expressed in numerical figures and timelines for achieving them.

Many voters who read the manifesto voted for the party, hoping their lives would improve. As the manifesto also served as a yardstick to measure the achievement of the DPJ government, there is a general perception that the DPJ betrayed such voters.

In writing its manifesto for the Dec. 16 Lower House election, the DPJ appears to have overreacted to this situation. It contains very few numerical goals and no timelines for achieving election promises. It contains many expressions that enable the party to make an excuse in case it fails to carry out its promises.