Japan Press Weekly

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2012 August 22 - 28 [POLITICS]

Former PM Abe seeks cooperation with Ishin-no-Kai for constitutional revision

Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on August 25 said on a TV program that he is seeking cooperation with Osaka’s local party “Ishin-no-Kai” in order to get the Constitution revised.

The senior official of the former ruling Liberal Democratic Party, a well-known advocate of constitutional revision, said that he and the regional party led by Osaka Mayor Hashimoto Toru “completely agree with” the need to revise Article 96 of the Constitution which sets the requirements for constitutional amendment. “Every topic they bring up gets nationwide attention. I think their strength is necessary to implement a major reform,” he said.

Abe also introduced his vision to create a force that will hold two-thirds of parliamentary seats, a requirement to initiate constitutional amendment, through victories in the next upper and lower house elections expected to take place by summer of next year. He said, “To establish such a force will provide a path for constitutional revision and the adoption of a major change from the post-war regime.”

Regarding the strict administrative control over education promoted by Osaka Mayor Hashimoto, Abe stated, “The course they are pursuing is putting into practice the spirit of the Abe Cabinet that changed the fundamental law of education. We are on the same course.”