Changing Course to Amendment

Following the upper House, Commission on the Constitution in House of Representatives resumed the discussion over constitutional amendment on Thursday. Although conservative and restorative Liberal Democratic Party firmly argued that Constitution of Japan was coerced by General Headquarters of United Nations right after the World War II in House of Councillors, they backed off that argument in the lower House. Media recognized it as an effusion of seriousness for breaking the Constitution down.

LDP members of the commission did not emphasize their long-time argument of illegitimacy of the Constitution. “While it cannot be denied that GHQ was involved in legislative process of Constitution of Japan, basic principles of it has been settled among the people,” said Former Minister of Defense, Gen Nakatani. Nakatani proposed to succeed fundamental principles of the Constitution, sovereignty on the people, pacifism and respect for basic human rights, to the future.

It was Prime Minister and President of LDP, Shinzo Abe, who said that Constitution of Japan was created by twenty-five members of GHQ in a short period and it would be proper for us to discuss changing it. While LDP members of the commission in House of Councillors followed that notion, some in House of Representatives made different description. “Though it might not have been excessive, I cannot stand with an argument for repealing the Constitution for that reason,” said Hajime Funada.

After LDP changed the rule for presidential election, which made extension of Abe’s term possible, momentum for early settlement of constitutional discussion has been lost. Abe expected LDP lawmakers to carefully discuss the theme without connecting it to political struggle. Argument of coerced process is highly unpopular in its political ally, Komeito.

Opposite Democratic Party wants to slow down the discussion under the leadership of Abe administration. “Modern constitutionalism is to protect freedom or rights of the individuals. The draft of LDP shakes Japanese pacifism by establishing national defense force with collective self-defense right, erodes respect of basic human rights by changing ‘public welfare’ into ‘public benefit’ or ‘public order,’ and jeopardize sovereignty of the people by posing new obligation on the people for superiority of the state,” told Koichi Takemasa. DP required making a basic ground for the discussion for brewing consensus between the parties.