Final Appeals

Two-week campaign for the election of House of Councillors has been finished on Saturday night. Each party appealed its own policies or political agenda, expecting new preferable phase for them. Party leaders made final imploration to the people in big cities with a number of eligible voters. Asahi Shimbun quoted the speeches of the leaders on the final day.

Prime Minister, or President of Liberal Democratic Party, Shinzo Abe insisted on his determination in economic policy. “The biggest issue of this election is economy. After taking oath three years ago, I have been focusing on economic policy. We increased employment by 1.1 millions. Effective opening-to-application rate for the first time exceeded 1 in every prefecture. Abenomics has not failed,” told Abe to the public.

For opposite parties, constitutional amendment matters the most. “Mr. Abe never refers to constitution in the campaign. But, if the leading party takes two-third majority, he must be doing it. We have to halt it, otherwise pacifism in the Constitution of Japan will be changed. For the next generation, we do not make this country fighting war in overseas,” told Katsuya Okada, President of Democratic Party.

Japan Communist Party is worried about the future of Japan. “Choose for peace in this election. Let us choose an option about which we will be able to talk ‘It was correct for peace.’ We will abolish unconstitutional new security legislation. Let the Article 9 survive,” told Chairman Kazuo Shii.

Social Democratic Party also focused on constitution. “This election is to stop reckless drive of Abe administration, which does not abide by the Constitution and not take a look at people’s life. We must not give two-third majority to the power for constitutional amendment. With pacific concept in the Constitution, Japan will lead international society to the peaceful world,” told SDP President Tadatomo Yoshida.

Still trying to identify them as the party for peace, Komeito does not focus on constitutional amendment, but political stability. “With Komeito in the leading coalition, Abe administration will be truly stable,” told President Natsuo Yamaguchi. Osaka Restoration Party, supposed to join the cooperative framework for constitutional amendment, appealed its attitude for reforming bureaucratic system, which cannot be timely for this election. “We need to spend tax money in a way that the people can be satisfied,” insisted President Ichiro Matsui.

Well, it is obvious that leading parties are backing the important issue off from the eyes of public. But, the biggest issue after the election should be constitutional amendment, which may change this nation forever.