Japan Press Weekly

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2009 May 13 - 19 [POLITICS]

New DPJ leader says it’s okay to start discussing constitutional revision

Hatoyama Yukio, who was recently elected president of the Democratic Party of Japan, expressed his willingness to support starting discussions towards revising the Constitution.

During an interview aired on NHK radio and television on May 17, he said, “I am okay with holding constitutional discussions” at the Deliberative Councils on the Constitution established in both houses of the Diet based on the National Referendum Law that was enacted to establish procedures for constitutional revision.

The Deliberative Councils on the Constitution are tasked to examine drafts of a new constitution, but they have been unable to begin discussions since the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which called for constitutional revision as its campaign promise, suffered a crushing defeat in the 2007 House of Councilors election.

Hatoyama said, “There are provisions that should have been amended in accordance with historical changes over the last 50 years or 60 years. Here lies the main point.”

Asked, “Didn’t your party oppose the establishment of the Deliberative Councils on the Constitution?” he answered, “I am fine with beginning discussions.”