Abe Allows Delayed Introduction of Constitutional Revision Draft

October 4, 2018

Tokyo- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his intention Wednesday to allow his Liberal Democratic party to only explain constitutional amendments it drafted during an extra Diet session expected to be convened in late October, it was learned Wednesday.

Abe had been eager to see the LDP introduce the four-point amendment plans including the stipulation of the Self-Defense Forces in war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution during the parliamentary session.

But when Masahiko Komura, who stepped down as LDP vice president in the previous day's party leadership renewal, told Abe, also LDP president, that during the upcoming session, the party plans to make explanation about the draft at the Commission on the Constitution of each chamber of the Diet, the prime minister gave the nod.

Komura is set to take the post of supreme advisor at the LDP Headquarters for the Promotion of Revision of the Constitution.

The four revisions were drawn up by the LDP headquarters in March, based on Abe's proposals. They have not yet been approved by the General Council, the party's highest decision-making organ.

Some influential party members, including Shigeru Ishiba, who lost to Abe but fought well in a party leadership election last month, are reluctant to accept the four revisions.

Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, also distances itself from Abe's initiative for constitutional reform, ahead of next year's unified local elections and House of Councillors poll.

On Wednesday, Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi reiterated his party's rejection of the LDP's request for consultations on the amendment issue before the extra session starts.

"On the Constitution, it's not a very good approach to do something outside the Diet in advance," he said.

Opposition parties are criticizing Abe for trying to move forward in line with his predetermined constitutional reform timetable. Jiji Press