Japan’s PM Abe expresses strong desire to amend top law before tenure ends

TOKYO, Dec 10, 2019, The Yomiuri Shimbun. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed a strong desire to realize constitutional amendment by September 2021, when his term as president of the Liberal Democratic Party ends, saying, “I definitely want to achieve it under my own initiative,” The Japan News reported.

He held a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday after the extraordinary Diet session ended.

The prime minister also stressed his intention to conduct a comprehensive review of the cherry blossom-viewing parties he hosts.

Referring to the failure to pass a bill during the latest Diet session to revise the National Referendum Law, which is related to constitutional amendment, Abe said, “I really regret that.”

“Public interest is growing. Our party is taking the lead in making steady progress toward constitutional revision,” he added.

Abe expressed his hope for progress in discussions on constitutional amendment at the ordinary Diet session to be convened in January next year, saying, “Through lively and bipartisan discussions, we hope to speed up the formulation of a draft for constitutional revision that is appropriate for the new era of Reiwa.”

On the cherry blossom-viewing parties, he said: “We had only vague criteria on whom to invite, which led to the number of guests swelling. I deeply regret our previous approach.” Abe explained that he will take responsibility for clarifying the criteria for invitations and making the process transparent.

Asked about the dissolution of the House of Representatives for a general election, Abe said: “The House of Councillors election finished just this summer. We must carry out what we promised in the election. I’m preoccupied with this and focused on it.”

At the same time Abe said: “If the time is right to ask for the confidence of the public, I will hold a snap general election. In order to respond to the mandate of the people, I have no hesitation in that regard.”

Meanwhile, the prime minister emphasized that the government is currently arranging Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to Japan. “We will make every possible diplomatic effort to reduce tensions and stabilize the situation in the region,” he said.

Opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, decided not to submit a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet in the latest Diet session on Monday. They judged it unnecessary to submit the motion, because the ruling and opposition parties agreed on the cherry blossom-viewing party issue. After the Diet session is closed, the opposition parties will receive explanations from the government at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee.

Although opposition parties called for a 40-day extension of the latest Diet session, the Rules and Administration Committee of the lower house voted down the request by a majority vote of the ruling parties.