Flexibility on Amendment

In short, he promised that his promise would be broken after the election. Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, revealed his flexibility on reviewing the draft of Constitution amendment made by the Liberal Democratic Party. Since the draft is listed on LDP’s campaign promise for the election of the House of Councillors, Abe theoretically admit that the campaign promise will be changed, depending on the discussion among parties. It is not fair for a party leader to change opinion after campaign started.

In a live TV discussion on Sunday, Abe indicated the possibility of rewrite the draft. “When I will be told that it’s ok if some points are changed, I will consider it,” said Abe. He did not make clear which provision in the draft could be changed. Although polls show a sweeping victory of LDP in the election, it is still not likely for Abe to have two-third majority required for taking initiative to propose the nation constitutional amendment. So, he has been serious about how to make that majority in the Diet.

In the draft of new constitution LDP resolved last year, the Emperor is regarded as the head of state, reshaped from current concept of “symbol of state.” It added current Constitution several provisions to restrict human rights to make exercises of state power easier, in the time of emergency, for example. It also loosens the requirement of the initiative of amendment from two-third majority to simple majority. The party included the draft in the campaign promise.

Even though the campaign promises of LDP does not mean passing all provisions of its draft, they introduce focusing points of how the party intends to change the Constitution. It is obvious that voters recognize that the party is going to amend based on the draft. Considering some voters had already voted absentee ballots, the change of meaning of LDP’s amendment should be in appropriate to ask true opinions of voters.

Actually, LDP is facing the frustration of the coalition partner, New Komeito. Leaders of Komeito are firmly against loosening the requirement of amendment, because they believe the draft of LDP is vest too much obligation on the people, eroding democracy in Japan. Abe seems to have realized how difficult to pass the amendment without support of Komeito. Considering other powers for amendment, Restoration Party and Your Party, are too small to pass it, Abe has no choice except keeping Komeito in the coalition framework to achieve other agenda, including Abenomics, Trans-Pacific Partnership, or reconstruction of devastated area of the Great East Japan Earthquake two years ago.