Tokyo: JapanThe ruling party and its coalition partner secured a major victory in Sunday’s parliamentary election with Earth following the assassination of the former prime minister. Shinzo Abe Amid uncertainty as to how his loss could affect the unity of the party.
Liberal Democratic Party And its junior coalition partner Komito increased its combined share in the 248-seat house to 146 in the election for half of the seats in the less powerful upper house – far more than the majority.
With the boost, Prime Minister Fumio kishida Stands to rule without interruption until a scheduled election in 2025.
This required Kishida to work on long-term policies such as national security, his signature but nonetheless vague “New Capitalism” economic policy, and his party’s long-cherished goal of amending the US-drawn post-war pacifist constitution. will allow.
A charter change proposal is now a possibility. With the help of two opposition parties in support of the charter change, the governing bloc now has a two-thirds majority in the chamber required to propose an amendment, making it a realistic possibility. The governing bloc has already found support in the second chamber.
Kishida welcomed the big win but wasn’t smiling at the loss abe And the difficult task of unifying his party without him. In a media interview late Sunday, Kishida reiterated: “Party unity is more important than anything else.”
He said the response to COVID-19, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising prices would be his priorities. He said he would continue to push for a constitutional amendment to strengthen Japan’s national security as well.
Kishida and senior party lawmakers observed a moment of silence for Abe at the party election headquarters before putting up whiteboard victory ribbons next to the names of candidates who had secured their seats.
Abe, 67, was shot on Friday during a campaign speech in the western city of Nara and died of massive blood loss. He was Japan’s longest-serving political leader with two terms in office, and although he stepped down in 2020, was deeply influential in the LDP leading its largest faction, the Sewakai.
“This could be a turning point for the LDP in its divisive policies on gender equality, same-sex marriage and other issues that were opposed by Abe-backed ultra-conservatives,” said Mitsuru Fukuda, crisis management professor at Nihon. ” university.
Japan’s current diplomatic and security stance is unlikely to be affected as fundamental changes had already been made by Abe. His ultra-nationalist views and pragmatic policies made him a divisive figure for many, including Korea and China.
After the assassination, Sunday’s vote took on new meaning, with political leaders all over Japan emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression and defending democracy against acts of violence.
Abe’s assassination could result in sympathy votes. The turnout on Sunday was around 52%, almost 3 points higher than the previous 48.8% in 2019.
“It was very meaningful that we held the election,” Kishida said on Sunday. “Our effort to protect democracy continues.”
On Saturday, the last day of campaigning, party leaders in close contact with the public avoided punching and other friendly gestures – a sign of tight security following the assassination of Abe during a campaign rally.
Abe’s body was returned to his home in Shibuya, Tokyo, where mourners, including Kishida and top party officials, paid tribute. His wake up and funeral is expected in the coming days.
On Sunday, the suspect in his murder was transferred to a local prosecutor’s office for further investigation, and a top regional police officer admitted that a possible security lapse caused the gunman to move closer to Abe and attack him. Allowed to fire from house gun.
suspicious, Tetsuya Yamagami, told investigators that he took the action because of Abe’s alleged ties to an organization that angered him, police said, but had no problem with the former leader’s political views. According to media reports, the man was hated by a religious group his mother was obsessed with and that bankrupted a family business, with some identifying the group as the Unification Church.
Nara Prefectural Police Chief Tomoyaki Onizuka said on Saturday that the problems with security were undeniable, that he took the shooting seriously and would review security procedures.
Japan is known for its strict gun laws. With a population of 125 million, there were only 21 criminal cases related to guns in 2020, according to the latest government crime sheet. Experts say, however, that some recent attacks have involved the use of consumer goods such as gasoline, which increases the risk for ordinary people engaging in mass attacks.
Liberal Democratic Party And its junior coalition partner Komito increased its combined share in the 248-seat house to 146 in the election for half of the seats in the less powerful upper house – far more than the majority.
With the boost, Prime Minister Fumio kishida Stands to rule without interruption until a scheduled election in 2025.
This required Kishida to work on long-term policies such as national security, his signature but nonetheless vague “New Capitalism” economic policy, and his party’s long-cherished goal of amending the US-drawn post-war pacifist constitution. will allow.
A charter change proposal is now a possibility. With the help of two opposition parties in support of the charter change, the governing bloc now has a two-thirds majority in the chamber required to propose an amendment, making it a realistic possibility. The governing bloc has already found support in the second chamber.
Kishida welcomed the big win but wasn’t smiling at the loss abe And the difficult task of unifying his party without him. In a media interview late Sunday, Kishida reiterated: “Party unity is more important than anything else.”
He said the response to COVID-19, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising prices would be his priorities. He said he would continue to push for a constitutional amendment to strengthen Japan’s national security as well.
Kishida and senior party lawmakers observed a moment of silence for Abe at the party election headquarters before putting up whiteboard victory ribbons next to the names of candidates who had secured their seats.
Abe, 67, was shot on Friday during a campaign speech in the western city of Nara and died of massive blood loss. He was Japan’s longest-serving political leader with two terms in office, and although he stepped down in 2020, was deeply influential in the LDP leading its largest faction, the Sewakai.
“This could be a turning point for the LDP in its divisive policies on gender equality, same-sex marriage and other issues that were opposed by Abe-backed ultra-conservatives,” said Mitsuru Fukuda, crisis management professor at Nihon. ” university.
Japan’s current diplomatic and security stance is unlikely to be affected as fundamental changes had already been made by Abe. His ultra-nationalist views and pragmatic policies made him a divisive figure for many, including Korea and China.
After the assassination, Sunday’s vote took on new meaning, with political leaders all over Japan emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression and defending democracy against acts of violence.
Abe’s assassination could result in sympathy votes. The turnout on Sunday was around 52%, almost 3 points higher than the previous 48.8% in 2019.
“It was very meaningful that we held the election,” Kishida said on Sunday. “Our effort to protect democracy continues.”
On Saturday, the last day of campaigning, party leaders in close contact with the public avoided punching and other friendly gestures – a sign of tight security following the assassination of Abe during a campaign rally.
Abe’s body was returned to his home in Shibuya, Tokyo, where mourners, including Kishida and top party officials, paid tribute. His wake up and funeral is expected in the coming days.
On Sunday, the suspect in his murder was transferred to a local prosecutor’s office for further investigation, and a top regional police officer admitted that a possible security lapse caused the gunman to move closer to Abe and attack him. Allowed to fire from house gun.
suspicious, Tetsuya Yamagami, told investigators that he took the action because of Abe’s alleged ties to an organization that angered him, police said, but had no problem with the former leader’s political views. According to media reports, the man was hated by a religious group his mother was obsessed with and that bankrupted a family business, with some identifying the group as the Unification Church.
Nara Prefectural Police Chief Tomoyaki Onizuka said on Saturday that the problems with security were undeniable, that he took the shooting seriously and would review security procedures.
Japan is known for its strict gun laws. With a population of 125 million, there were only 21 criminal cases related to guns in 2020, according to the latest government crime sheet. Experts say, however, that some recent attacks have involved the use of consumer goods such as gasoline, which increases the risk for ordinary people engaging in mass attacks.