LDP pushes its agenda of constitutional revision

The Liberal Democratic Party on June 11 compiled a draft new party program that calls for a national consensus to be formed in favor of replacing the present Constitution.

With this latest action, the LDP has almost completed its work in preparation for a real attack on the Constitution.

The LDP will adopt the new program next year for the first time in a decade to mark the 50th anniversary of its founding.

The LDP's Upper House election policies call for the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution to be revised, for an international role for the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, and for the right of collective self-defense to be established for Japan.

Aoki Mikio, Upper House LDP secretary general, stated on May 30, "We must discuss properly a constitution appropriate to the country. The coming election will be the first and the last chance for moving forward toward revising the Constitution. With this in mind, we should be ready to devote all our energies to the Upper House election campaign."

The LDP puts up the constitutional revision in its draft program, in the election platform, and in the point of discussions in the LDP Research Commission on the Constitution, seeking to make Japan a war-fighting nation. (end)