Insisting on Early Amendment

In a negative trend of politics, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tries to manage the situation by going forward. In his speech to the public in Kobe city, Abe announced his plan to submit new draft for constitutional amendment by the end of this year. It was the first time that Abe, as the President of Liberal Democratic Party, referred to actual timing of the submission. He schedules to initiate the draft for national referendum in ordinary session of the Diet next year.

In his speech, Abe stressed his determination to amend the Constitution of Japan, which he fundamentally hates. “In this memorial year of seventieth anniversary from the activation of the Constitution, I determined to take a historical step with the leadership of our party,” told Abe. Receiving firm conviction of its President, LDP is discussing a schedule of finishing the draft by September and initiative of amendment in May or June next year.

Abe referred to actual provisions that he wanted to change. On writing Self-defense Force in the Constitution, he argued to add a provision of meaning and role of Self-defense Force, while remaining the first and second section of Article 9, which described renouncing of war, no possession of force and denial of right of belligerency. He also reiterated his preference of adding a provision for free education, which could be achieved without constitutional amendment.

The Headquarters for Constitutional Amendment in LDP is considering four points: writing about Self-defense Force, free education, emergency clause for extending the term of lawmakers in the time of devastative disaster and election system including borders of electoral district along with prefectural borders. But, in the meeting of Headquarters last week, some lawmakers argued that writing Self-defense Force would contradict Section 2 of Article 9, which denied possession of force, or that the time schedule would be too short.

To improve negative political situation, Abe announced that he would not limit establishing veterinary school to Kake Gakuen, which was run by his close friend. “There is no reason to limit it in Imabari city. I will approve any school with positive mind, say two or three, regardless the regional condition,” told Abe. He did not referred to a decision of Abe Cabinet in 2015, which raised four conditions for new veterinary school including new demand for veterinarian.

Unpopularity of Abe administration is caused by Kake Scandal. Election of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly will be a hard contest for LDP. If he fails in re-boosting his administration, constitutional amendment will not be an easy agenda.