Abe Goes Straight to Amendment

Having been successful in life-prolonging general election, Shinzo Abe administration looks like going straightforward to constitutional amendment. In the post-election press conference on Monday, Abe showed his ambition to submit a draft of amendment to the Diet, stressing his willingness to make consensus beyond the aisles. Although the leading coalition occupies two-third majority for the initiative, they do not have a clear vision for how and what provision should be changed.

Abe basically insisted on his effort for consensus. “Although the leading coalition achieved two-third majority, it is necessary to make a broad consensus not limited in the coalition,” Abe said. “I will make effort to have simple majority in national referendum.” Abe denied scheduling as the top priority. He has proposed to activate new constitution in 2020, regardless what kind of constitution it would be.

Liberal Democratic Party raised description of Self-defense Force, education for free, emergency clause and electoral district of House of Councillors along with prefectural border as the four points for the amendment. While some of them can be accepted by the opposite parties, writing down the status of SDF still faces opposition even in LDP. “Constitutional amendment cannot be done in a mood,” told former Minister of Defense, Shigeru Ishiba. Abe admitted that it was not the time for having consensus in LDP.

It was an unexpected result that Party of Hope, an opposite party positive to constitutional amendment, declined in the election. Instead, Constitutional Democratic Party of Hope achieved the status of the biggest opposite party. Abe insisted on “making effort” to establish a broad consensus, which did not necessarily mean having overall consensus including CDPJ. “As long as it is about politics, it would not be understood by all of them,” said Abe, indicating exclusion of CDPJ. His effort for consensus will not be unlimited.

LDP’s coalition partner, Komeito, is still reluctant to the issue. In the agreement for maintenance of the coalition after the election, the description for constitutional amendment was concluded to be “making effort for building consensus.” While LDP hoped to make it to be “going forward to constitutional amendment,” Komeito rejected it with reasoning of lack of public enthusiasm on the issue.

The opposite parties are not united against Abe administration, anyway. While CDPJ insists that it would not be unwilling to change the Constitution, not hoping to be seen as a rigorous protector, Japan Communist Party and Social Democratic Party definitely oppose it. Party of Hope will be swinging between LDP and the opposites in each point for amendment. It is likely that LDP will lead the discussion.