Japan
Little choice in Japan
In the parliamentary election at the weekend, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely to expand its majority. From his domination of all things, the Communists could benefit the most.
In the parliamentary election in Japan on Sunday (10. July) a victory of the coalition of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The main reason is the continuing weakness of the Opposition. The traditionally risk-averse voters in Japan will therefore continue to pursue Abe. His liberal democratic party (LDP) may even win for the first time in 27 years, a majority in the upper house of Parliament. The choice of which half of the 242 seats in the upper house, which can be forgiven in part directly and in part via a party list.
Actually, Abe has declared the election a referendum on his economic policies. At the beginning of June he had moved in the spring of 2017, the planned increase in the VAT rate, currently at eight to ten per cent, on the fall of 2019, even though the are supposed to contain more revenue, Japan’s debt. Originally, this tax should come step even in the autumn of 2015. The postponement reasoned Abe with the threat of turmoil in the world economy. The 61-year-old politician had not thought about the Brexit Referendum. But in retrospect, he may now feel confirmed.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes that the Two-thirds majority in both houses
Constitutional reform as a goal
With the abandonment of the unpopular tax step, Abe wants to win, the choice is clear, and thus his Power secure. His real political goal of Overcoming the post-war order in East Asia remains to be seen. Abe wants to loosen the pacifist corset for the Japanese foreign policy and the defence Alliance with the United States deepen, to limit the rise of the great China in East Asia. For this he had already in the previous year, despite protests from new safety laws, Japan’s armed forces would for the first time, allow the participation in armed conflict.
Against these laws, many lawyers want to sue in Japan. According to their view, they violate the pacifism of article 9 of the Constitution of Japan after the end of the Second world war, of the victory of the United States was imposed. Warlike activities, as well as the maintenance of armed forces are, in fact, prohibited.
Therefore, Abe wants to renew the current Constitution. Since its entry into force in may 1947, it was still never changed. A clear election victory would give Abe the necessary Two-thirds majority in both chambers of Parliament. His LDP has already drafted a template. He expect, however, substantial Changes, said Abe in June.
Mass protests in the summer of 2015, against the security laws in Tokyo
Blood Empty Election Campaign
His government partner, the minor justice party, Komeito, was for a long time as the greatest obstacle to reducing the effects of pacifism. But these Buddhists-party has shown in this coalition so far, surprisingly flexible, and about the controversial security laws supported. That would have been unthinkable a decade ago. The Komeito will, in turn, interested in the protection of the environment in the Constitution, and, therefore, is self-Reform. The mandatory Referendum needs only a simple majority.
Despite these perspectives, the election campaign of blood remained empty. The satisfaction of the Japanese, with the Abe government has fallen, according to surveys compared to the last election in December 2014. The head of the government advertises the low unemployment and higher wages. But most of the Japanese have due to a tax increase and higher import prices due to the weak Yen, less money in your wallet. Of these, the largest opposition party can’t benefit but. The Democratic party (DPJ) lacks credibility because it has not renewed after their weak tenure from 2009 to 2012.
Japan’s U-boat of the Soryu class for self-defense
Communists as partners
In this election the democratic party takes after the merger with a spin-off under the symbol DP. But DP-Chef Katsuya Okada belonged to the management staff, and has therefore, as a critic of Abe little weight. In spite of intra-party Resistances Okada has forged, therefore, an Alliance of four opposition parties. For the first time, the Communist party (KP), even though there is content hardly Matches. So KP wants to abolish the army and all of the shut down nuclear power plants. “It is absolutely impossible that the DP could accept that,” said Okada.
However, this Alliance occurs in a direct election-districts with a common candidate against the government parties. The Communists set up only in a single electoral district as a candidate and rely entirely on the election on the party list. So they hope as many protest votes to collect.
The calculus could work. As the only party of the Communists reject the Abenomics economic policy and the softening of pacifism. “We need change in all areas”, called for Communist party chief Kazuo Shii. At the last parliamentary election, the Communist party doubled its vote share to a record level of over eleven percent almost. This time even more seems to be in there.