Social Democratic Union

A political party formed on March 26, 1978 (Showa 53) and dissolved in 1994 (Heisei 6). Abbreviated as Shaminren. It was formed when the "Social Citizens' Alliance" was formed to carry out the wishes of Eda Saburo (who left the Socialist Party in March 1977 and died suddenly in May of the same year), and a group led by Den Hideo (1923-2009), who later left the party in opposition to the left-wing wing of the Socialist Party, joined forces. It was a small political party whose mission was to become the "glue" for the reorganization of the political world, aiming to realize a coalition government of reformists and centrists. There was constant unrest over the party's course, such as the conflict between the "Citizens' faction" and the "old Socialist Party faction," and whether to emphasize cooperation with the New Liberal Club or to build closer ties with the Japan Socialist Party. As the party's popularity declined and its strength declined, the party tried to make a fresh start by reshuffling its executive personnel, such as electing Satsuki Eda (1941-2021, eldest son of Saburo Eda) as its representative in February 1985, but the party's strength continued to decline. When the Hosokawa Morihiro coalition government was launched in 1993, Representative Eda joined the cabinet as Minister of the Science and Technology Agency, but Representative Tadamae criticized the coalition government and left the party, and Deputy Representative Kan Naoto moved to the New Party Sakigake. In this situation, the party gradually lost its raison d'être, and on May 22, 1994, it was dissolved, stating that it had "completed its historical mission." Representative Eda and Secretary-General Shogo Abe (1928-2015) joined the Japan New Party and participated in the formation of the Shinshinto Party in December of the same year.

[Tadashi Fujii and Hitoshi Igarashi]

“‘Social Democratic Party History’ (1995, Social Democratic Party History Publishing Association)”

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1978年（昭和53）3月26日に結成され、1994年（平成6）に解党した政党。略称、社民連。江田三郎（1977年3月社会党離党、同年5月急死）の遺志を継いで結成された「社会市民連合」と、その後、社会党の左翼的部分に反発して離党した田英夫(でんひでお)（1923―2009）らのグループが合流したもの。革新・中道連合政権の実現を目ざし、政界再編成のための「接着剤」となることを自らの使命としたミニ政党。「市民派」と「旧社会党派」の対立、新自由クラブとの連携重視か日本社会党との関係緊密化かなど、路線問題についての動揺が絶えなかった。支持率の低下など党勢衰退のなかで、1985年2月、江田五月(さつき)（1941―2021。江田三郎の長男）を代表に選出するなど役員人事を一新し、再出発を図ったが、その後も党勢はふるわなかった。1993年の細川護熙(もりひろ)連立政権の発足に際して江田代表が科学技術庁長官として入閣したが、田前代表は連立政権を批判して離党し、菅直人(かんなおと)副代表は新党さきがけに移った。このようななかでしだいに存在意義が失われ、1994年5月22日、「歴史的使命を終えた」として解党。江田代表と阿部昭吾(しょうご)（1928―2015）書記長は日本新党に合流した後、同年12月の新進党結成に参加した。

［藤井　正・五十嵐仁］

『『社民連政党史』（1995・社民連政党史刊行会）』

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