Japan Press Weekly

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2019 January 30 - February 5 [POLITICS]

Abe shows hostility to public movements in support of Article 9 of the Constitution

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on January 30 at a House of Representatives plenary meeting said, “There exists an ill-grounded criticism and protest movements against the Self-Defense Forces,” underlining the need for an explicit definition of the SDF in the Constitution in order to put an end to this situation.

This remark was made in response to Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Nikai Toshihiro who asked Abe about the issue of a constitutional revision. Abe said that a prime minister should refrain from speaking publicly about whether the Constitution needs an amendment, but he will explain his view as an individual because Nikai asked. Then, Abe stated his opinion on the issue for nearly five minutes before the Diet.

Abe insisted that it is quite regrettable that the SDF faces constant opposition movements and has had to face difficulties in recruiting personnel. Abe has long expressed frustration with peace activists who criticize the SDF as unconstitutional and claimed that Article 9 of the Constitution should be changed so that there will be no room left for misinterpretation on which he feels the “ill-grounded criticism” is based.

Stating, “It is politicians’ responsibility to create an environment where all SDF members can perform their duties with pride,” Abe called on Dietmembers to work for a constitutional amendment. This is evidently in violation of the prime minister’s constitutional obligation to uphold the supreme law and the principle of the separation of powers.

Past related articles:
> Majority of general public oppose Abe’s move to revise Constitution [September 23, 2018]
> Abe spurs his party to submit its draft constitution to Diet this fall [August 14, 2018]