Japan Press Weekly

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2017 October 25 - 31 [POLITICS]

From 'being cautious' to 'promoting' constitutional changes -Komeito's overnight turn

The Komeito Party on October 23 signed an agreement with the Liberal Democratic Party to continue to ally and "work together to deepen nationwide discussions in order to produce a consensus on constitutional revision", declaring afresh that the Komeito as the governing LDP's coalition partner will promote amendments to the Constitution.

Just one day before this signing of their partnership, Komeito Chief Representative Yamaguchi Natsuo spoke of the party's "cautious" stance toward a proposal for changes in the Constitution. In response to an NHK interview, Yamaguchi said that a revision initiative is "not" something that can be automatically done within the framework of ruling parties. He also said that the LDP-Komeito government will "not necessarily unite" to promote the proposition of constitutional reform.

The Komeito's overnight turn contradicts Yamaguchi's remarks as the party in the agreement with the LDP reaffirms mutual cooperation to not only "deepen nationwide discussions" but also "produce a consensus" on the controversy over amendments to the Constitution.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is planning to legitimate the Japanese Self-Defense Forces by incorporating the SDF existence, in whatever form, in Article 9 which prohibits war potential and renounces war. This idea of adding a new stipulation to the existing article comes from the Komeito. Therefore, the party has never adopted a "cautious" stance to constitutional additions from the very beginning.

As a result of the October 22 election, the Komeito reduced its number of seats in the Lower House to 29 from the previous 35. In a survey conducted jointly by Asahi Shimbun and the University of Tokyo, 86% of Komeito's successful legislators are in "support" of amending the Constitution. As for amending Article 9, 54% answered they "cannot say either support or oppose".

Past related articles:
> Buddhist priest criticizes religious group-backed Komei Party for supporting ‘anti-conspiracy’ bill [May 16, 2017]
> Komei Party unconstitutionally part of Soka Gakkai [February 20, 2017]
> How can Komei Party call itself a ‘pacifist’ party? [July 1, 2014]
> LDP and Komei force through constitutional revision procedural bill through Upper House committee [May 12, 2007]