首相に必要な能力
イギリスのトラス首相が辞職した。不運だったのか、指導力に問題が有ったのかよく分からないが、当初からトラス氏を不安視する発言があった。イギリスで最短の内閣であったとの事であるが、議会内での人選の方法が決してベストではないということであろう。
ここで、首相に必要な能力について考えてみたい。思いつくままに列挙してみると、以下のようになる。
判断力、決断力、組織化能力、説得力、指導力、傾聴力、表現力、プレゼン力、予見力
人は様々であり、上記の各々の能力にも優劣がある。また、首相に就任する国や時代によって必要とされる程度も各能力毎に異なってくるに違いない。そして、更に有益な能力として付け加えるなら、人徳が挙げられる。人徳は、判断力や組織化能力その他多くの能力に間接的に影響するだろう。
上記の能力に照らし合わせて、政治家を観察すると、こんな人が政治家と言えるのかと疑いたくなる人もいる。能力には上限がないが、最低限の能力を維持する意味でも、選挙で立候補する際に、資格試験のような制度を設けても良いかも知れない。特に国会議員や県会議員のような公職で実施するのが良いと思う。
今回のトラス氏に関して言えば、私は、彼女が弁舌は巧みだが、組織化能力は弱いような印象を持っていた。また、日本では鳩山氏も組織化能力が弱かったし、菅元首相はプレゼンが上手くなかったと思う。
Abilities required of a Prime Minister
British Prime Minister Truss has resigned. I don't know if it was bad luck or if there was a problem with leadership, but from the beginning there were remarks that worried whether Ms. Truss was okay. It is said that it was the shortest cabinet in the UK, but it seems that the method of selecting Prime Minister in the parliament is by no means the best.
Here, I would like to think about the abilities necessary for the prime minister. If I list them as I can think of them, they are as follows.
Judgment, decisiveness, organizational ability, persuasion, leadership, listening, expression, presentation, foresight
People are different, and each of the above abilities has superiority and inferiority. Also, depending on the country and the era in which the prime minister takes office, the level of ability required will also differ for each ability. And if I add it as an even more useful ability, I can mention virtue. Virtue will indirectly affect his judgment, ability to organize, and many other abilities.
Observing politicians in the light of the above abilities, sometimes I am tempted to question whether such a person can be called a politician. There is no upper limit to ability, but in terms of maintaining the minimum ability, it may be good to set up a system like a qualification test when running for election. I think that it is good to carry out about public office such as member of the Diet and member of prefectural assembly in particular.
As for Ms. Truss, I had the impression that she was an orator but a weak organiser. Also, in Japan, Mr. Hatoyama was weak in organizing ability, and I think former Prime Minister Suga was not good at presentation.
