Leaving Wide Support Behind

The leading coalition, Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, gave up an option of broadening the support for new security legislature. Seeing delay of decision by Innovation Party to join approval by leading parties, LDP fixed the schedule that they would pass the bill at the special committee in the House of Representatives next Wednesday. The opposite parties will strictly protest against unilateral procedure in the Diet. It is obvious that supporting rate of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will significantly decline after the showdown, eroding the political basis of the administration.

To avoid negative impact on the administration, Abe has been seeking support from Innovation Party on the security bills. However, Innovation Party is an aggregation of a despotic local leader and his henchmen and deserters from ailing Democratic Party of Japan. It is basically unlikely that the party can make integrated decision on an important issue like security legislature.

In the discussion over collective action against great power of leading parties, Innovation Party and DPJ have repeatedly made an agreement and its dismissal. While some right wing lawmakers in Innovation Party wanted to join the vote for approval in the Diet, others tried to extend timing of the voting as late as possible. After a breaking off on cooperation, the leaders of both parties agreed on submitting alternative bills for patrolling maritime territory, finding a common ground against LDP leadership.

LDP dropped an option of getting support from Innovation Party, because of tightness of schedule. Constitution of Japan gives power to House of Representative to revote for a bill, when House of Councillors does not determine its attitude sixty days after receiving the bill from another House. To take advantage of that rule, LDP needs to pass the bill in House of Representatives by July 29^th. To make the passage of the bills sure, LDP had to decide unilateral action on the bill.

Polls have shown that overwhelming part of the nation thinks discussion over security legislation is not sufficient. It is a basic demand of Abe administration to persuade the people about the necessity of new security measures. As discussion in the committee goes, problems in the bills appeared to the public. It is unnecessary for Japanese government to have power to exercise collective self-defense to protect its territory or maintain Japan-U.S. alliance.

If the leading parties pass the bills with unilateral approval, public will accuse undemocratic decision, losing credibility on security policy of Abe administration. Along with doubt on economic policy caused by European uncertainty in market economy, Abe may face serious downfall this fall.