January 26, 2016
Akahata ‘current’ column
On January 30, 1933, Germany marked a turning point which would lead the country to a horrible tragedy. On that day, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler became the German Chancellor. Following that, he enacted the Enabling Act by “majority” vote. By using the notorious law, half a year later, Hitler banned all the other political parties and established the Nazis’ one-party regime.
The Enabling Act, which Hitler obtained by using every trick and resorting to violence, gave his government legislative power and enabled it to enact laws without parliamentary deliberations. Thus, the Hitler administration acquired the ability to make laws against the Weimar Constitution.
In this way, Hitler “legally” destroyed both the parliament and the Constitution. Of course, this is a past event and an act of this kind won’t work so easily in present-day Japan. However, the Abe government’s high-handed political tactics are arousing public concern.
“The purpose of the provision is to secure the nation’s safety in case of an emergency such as a massive disaster.” With the aim of strengthening the powers of the prime minister and limiting people’s rights in an emergency caused by major disasters or acts of terrorism, PM Abe is attempting to add an “emergency provision” to the Japanese Constitution. With this breakthrough, he wants to revise the pacifist Constitution. In fact, Hitler’s Enabling Act was officially called the “Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Reich”.
PM Abe is eagerly stirring up a sense of impending crisis among the general public by referring to dangers of possible disasters. We have to remember that Abe’s favorite phrase “there is not a moment to lose” is a hackneyed expression used by politicians to instill fear.
Past related article:
> Abe eyes right to impose dictatorship in emergency [January 15, 2016]
On January 30, 1933, Germany marked a turning point which would lead the country to a horrible tragedy. On that day, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler became the German Chancellor. Following that, he enacted the Enabling Act by “majority” vote. By using the notorious law, half a year later, Hitler banned all the other political parties and established the Nazis’ one-party regime.
The Enabling Act, which Hitler obtained by using every trick and resorting to violence, gave his government legislative power and enabled it to enact laws without parliamentary deliberations. Thus, the Hitler administration acquired the ability to make laws against the Weimar Constitution.
In this way, Hitler “legally” destroyed both the parliament and the Constitution. Of course, this is a past event and an act of this kind won’t work so easily in present-day Japan. However, the Abe government’s high-handed political tactics are arousing public concern.
“The purpose of the provision is to secure the nation’s safety in case of an emergency such as a massive disaster.” With the aim of strengthening the powers of the prime minister and limiting people’s rights in an emergency caused by major disasters or acts of terrorism, PM Abe is attempting to add an “emergency provision” to the Japanese Constitution. With this breakthrough, he wants to revise the pacifist Constitution. In fact, Hitler’s Enabling Act was officially called the “Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Reich”.
PM Abe is eagerly stirring up a sense of impending crisis among the general public by referring to dangers of possible disasters. We have to remember that Abe’s favorite phrase “there is not a moment to lose” is a hackneyed expression used by politicians to instill fear.
Past related article:
> Abe eyes right to impose dictatorship in emergency [January 15, 2016]
