Japan Press Weekly

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2016 October 26 - November 1 [POLITICS]

Ruling parties fear reliving ‘nightmares’ over constitutionalism discussions

The representatives of the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties on October 27 at a steering meeting of the Lower House Commission on the Constitution insisted that the commission not discuss constitutionalism.

With the aim of changing Japan’s war-renouncing Constitution, the ruling coalition intends to reopen the commission’s discussions in early November.

In the meeting, LDP lawmaker Mori Eisuke, chairing the commission, said, “The atmosphere prevailing among ruling party legislators is that they will suffer from nightmares again if the commission touches on the subject of constitutionalism.” A Komei Party lawmaker added, “The opposition parties have criticized the government for its disdain for constitutionalism. Debating on that topic is not in accord with the commission’s original purpose.”

What they refer to as “nightmares” occurred in June last year. At that time, the Diet was embroiled over the national security legislation (aka the war legislation). At a Lower House hearing session on the controversial legislation, all the three unsworn witnesses, including the LDP-recommended constitutional scholar, testified that the Abe government-sponsored bills are “in violation of the Japanese Constitution”. This added fuel to the public opposition to the war legislation.

Constitutionalism is a philosophy which argues for controlling those in power in order to protect individual dignity. The current Constitution is based on this spirit. However, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is aiming to promote Diet deliberations in line with the LDP’s draft constitution which puts “national interests” before personal dignity.

It is outrageous that the governing parties avoid discussions on constitutionalism for fear of public criticism.

Past related article:
> All constitutional scholars in parliamentary hearing criticize war legislation as unconstitutional [June 7, 2015]