Abe starts 6th year in office

December 27, 2017

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday marked the start of his sixth year in office since his return to power, after leading his party to victories in all national elections and passing a series of controversial laws over the past five years.

As he has no powerful rivals to challenge his premiership, Abe can remain in office until September 2021 if he wins a third term in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election in autumn next year.

In March this year, the LDP extended its president's maximum tenure to three consecutive three-year terms for a total of nine years, from two straight three-year terms for a total of six years.

The LDP marked its fifth consecutive win in national elections in October's poll for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament.

"Some predicted a considerable loss of seats, but I dared to call the election to address national challenges, namely North Korea's threats and the aging of Japan's population," Abe said in a recent speech in Tokyo.

The prime minister's Abenomics growth policy sent Japanese stock prices higher and also helped lift his public approval ratings.

But the ratings dropped sharply earlier this year after the Abe administration came under fire from opposition lawmakers over its alleged favoritism toward school operators Moritomo Gakuen and Kake Educational Institution.

The LDP suffered a humiliating defeat in July's Tokyo metropolitan assembly election. In the Lower House election, however, Abe regained strength as the LDP scored a landslide victory amid the weakness of opposition parties.

In parliament, Abe enacted a series of controversial bills, despite strong resistance from opposition parties, including the state secret protection law in 2013 and the national security laws in 2015. This year, he passed a special law to enable Emperor Akihito's abdication.

On the diplomatic front, Abe strengthened the Japan-US alliance. He expanded the roles of the Self-Defense Forces, including by enacting the national security laws. He also established a personal relationship of trust with US President Donald Trump.

In the speech, Abe reiterated his desire to have a revised constitution in place by 2020, when Tokyo hosts the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. He apparently wants to realize the constitutional revisions while in office, sources familiar with his thinking said. Jiji Press