September 9, 2015

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

On the day that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election campaign officially kicked off, incumbent President Abe Shinzo (Prime Minister) was re-elected unopposed because his main rival, former head of the LDP general council Noda Seiko gave up running for the election after failing to obtain the required support from at least 20 LDP legislators to enter the race. The largest ruling party’s president also leads the government. In opinion polls conducted by the media, the disapproval rating of the Abe Cabinet exceeded the approval rating. The general public disagrees with PM Abe implementing his policies in defiance of people’s objection to the war bills, the consumption tax increase, reactivation of idled nuclear power plants, and the construction of a new U.S. base in Okinawa. The LDP approved PM Abe’s re-election without contest. This indicates that the party has no willingness or ability to pay attention to the demands of the general public.

Public disapproval increasing

The LDP leader is determined by a vote of LDP parliamentarians and rank-and-file party members. As seven major LDP factions mainly consisting of LDP Dietmembers expressed their support to Abe before the official announcement of the presidential election, Abe automatically secured his re-election. Noda attempted to invite LDP lawmakers without factional affiliation to support her candidacy for the presidential race. However, her attempt ended in failure and she decided to withdraw from the race.

The term of the LDP presidency is three years. Abe became the LDP president at the very end of the Democratic Party of Japan government (September 2012) after beating challenger Ishiba Shigeru (present minister in charge of revitalization of regional economies) in the presidential election. Three months after this presidential race, the general election took place. As a result, the LDP achieved a comeback to power and the second Abe government was inaugurated.

The general election last year brought about a stable majority of the LDP and the Komei Party in the Diet and the continuation of the coalition government. The voter turnout, however, fell to a record low of 52.66%. The number of votes the LDP received in proportional representation constituencies and in single-member districts, respectively, accounted for 16.99% and 24.49% of all voters in Japan. Due to the unfair election system, the party has 61% of the seats in the Lower House. Its “majority” is pure fiction.

In effect, most people do not support the LDP. Nevertheless, almost no criticism comes from within the LDP against the party leadership because the Abe-headed LDP leadership now has absolute power. This is further widening its distance from the general public.

The more Abe becomes eager to push his agenda, the more opposition develops among public

On the occasion of his reelection, Abe said that he will fulfill his responsibility by achieving results. However, the more he becomes eager to push his agenda, the more he will cause conflict with the general public.