Prime minister in parliament shows eagerness to get the Constitution revised

In the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on November 25, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro said he is in favor of an extensive discussion leading to constitutional changes.

Koizumi stated this in response to Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Abe Shinzo, who used his question-time to openly call for changes in the Constitution.

Apparently, their arguments were designed to have the Diet proceed with discussions on the revision of the Constitution, Akahata of November 26 reported.

The prime minister, while reiterating the LDP's plan to draft constitutional amendments by 2005, expressed hope that the Diet will amend the Constitution by listening to various parties.

Akahata stated that it is extraordinary for a prime minister, who is responsible to uphold the Constitution, to call for constitutional changes in the Diet, noting that this was made possible because of the Democratic Party of Japan's support for a new constitution.

To justify his argument for the revision of the Constitution, Abe said that the Constitution was imposed by the U.S. occupation forces.

But this was not convincing. In the discussions in the House of Representatives Research Committee on the Constitution, even pro-constitutional revision lawmakers have had to admit that the Constitution has lasted for more than a half century and it is strongly supported by the general public.

Abe also said that there are constitutional provisions which no longer have relevance today.

"If he was referring to Article 9, revision is out of the question," said Akahata.

The reality of the Iraq War requires Japan to contribute to a peaceful settlement under the United Nations initiative. And such efforts can only be fruitful if Japan maintains Article 9.

However, the government has failed to act in compliance with Article 9. It has been cooperating in the lawless Iraq war and the U.S. occupation of Iraq. How can Abe, who is willing to get Article 9 scrapped, call for making a "creative" contribution? (end)