Abe wants ‘emergency clause in Constitution’ to smooth way for more constitutional revisions
January 6, 2016
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2016 January 6 - 12 TOP3 [POLITICS]
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Having already drastically changed the interpretation of the Constitution, the Abe government is now trying to actually rewrite the Constitution. Recently, it proposed to include an “emergency clause” in the Constitution. The clause will grant a prime minister authority to limit a wide range of people’s rights in the event of a declared emergency, which is a dangerous provision. The aim of this move is to create a precedent for constitutional revision. More efforts are necessary to block any attempts to enact amendments or revisions to the supreme law.
The Liberal Democratic Party and other rightist groups have repeatedly taken up the lack of an emergency clause in the Constitution in order to advocate the need for constitutional revision. With their campaign for a new constitution making little progress, Abe and the LDP seek to make the inclusion of an emergency clause the first amendment to the Constitution.
The LDP in 2012 published its draft of a new constitution. Along with a clause to upgrade the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to full-fledged military forces, the draft includes a clause that entitles a prime minister to declare a state of emergency in cases of foreign invasion, civil strife, or massive natural disasters. After the declaration, the Cabinet will be able to issue cabinet orders which have the same effect as law and a prime minister will have the right to give directives to heads of municipalities. This will be tantamount to the proclamation of martial law.
In the past, with a view to smoothing the way for a revised constitution, PM Abe proposed to change Article 96 of the Constitution to relax conditions for a constitutional amendment. His obsession with this issue of constitutional revision is deep-rooted.
PM Abe on January 4 in his New Year address said that he will campaign to change the Constitution in the Upper House election scheduled for this summer in order to increase public awareness and discussion of this issue. The urgent need now is to block all moves that will undermine the supreme law, including the proposed move to insert an emergency clause.
Past related article:
> Abe seeks to add emergency clause to Constitution [January 5, 2016]
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