Still Reluctant to Election System Reform

Renouncing war is one of the basic principles of Constitution of Japan. Prime Minister, and President of Liberal Democratic Party, Shinzo Abe questions that concept. Party lawmakers are supposed to follow their leader. Possibly affected by their president, LDP is going against equality under the law, which the Constitution guarantees to the people as another important principle. LDP decided to have next election of the House of Representatives by current election system, which was regarded as in a state of unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

After endless discussion over election system reform, the House of Representative launched a committee for the reform, consisted by scholars and experts. The committee concluded that seats of the House needed to be reduced by ten and gap of value for one vote should be contained within two times. All parties were supposed to follow the report of the committee.

Nevertheless, LDP had been reluctant to follow that, because negative impact of the reform would be the hardest for LDP. “Although reducing seat is necessary, it may destroy democracy, if we make a mistake in implementation,” told a lawmaker in a meeting of LDP. What does democracy mean for them? There was no explanation that current election system is democratic and new system is against democracy.

With persuasion of Abe, LDP once moved to accept the reform. However, LDP decided to introduce new election system after next national census, which was scheduled to be conducted in 2020, would be concluded. Receiving the result of the census 2020, it will take about two years to adjust the electoral districts. LDP can have more time for applying its candidates to electoral districts.

Before 2020, the term of current representatives will be expired. Although Supreme Court has concluded that current election system was in a state of unconstitutional for the past elections, LDP is ignoring it. The Court stressed that value of one vote should be equal between local and urban voters. But, rooted deeply on local voters, LDP is insisting on sending voices from local region to Tokyo, even how LDP administrations, connected with bureaucracy, have actually been centralized.

Opposite parties are disappointed to LDP. “I was appalled. Abe can’t escape from criticism that he lied to the people,” said President of Democratic Party of Japan, Katsuya Okada. Abe has been saying that the committee report should be respected.

Regardless the obligation of public servant including Diet members to respect the Constitution, LDP tends to think that the Constitution can be changed with two-third majority in the Houses. Having that majority in the House of Representatives, LDP lawmakers are less subjective to the Constitution. In this situation, constitutionalism is hard to stand.