Abe wants broad-based consensus on constitutional revisions

January 25, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday expressed hopes that parliament will reach a broad-based consensus on proposed constitutional amendment to put it to a public vote.

"I hope that a broad-based consensus will be formed among lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties for a deeper public understanding," Abe said at a plenary meeting of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament.

The prime minister is apparently considering having parliament put forward proposals for constitutional revisions this year for a public vote.

But he did not discuss his preferred timetable, only saying it "should be determined through parliamentary deliberations."

Any proposal to revise the constitution needs support from a two-thirds majority in both parliamentary chambers before it is put to a national referendum.

Abe dismissed a proposal from an opposition lawmaker for revising the national referendum law, which sets concrete procedures for changing the constitution.

The lawmaker, Kohei Otsuka, leader of the Democratic Party, complained that there is the possibility of organizations with ample funds launching campaigns to manipulate public opinion.

Abe said that the law is based on the conclusion that regulations should be limited to the minimum necessary to ensure fair votes and that freedom should be ensured over campaigning such as advertising and broadcasting.

He also dismissed a proposal that the government eliminate a program to exclude highly skilled professionals from work-hour regulations from proposed work-style reform legislation.

The program is intended to realize a flexible labor system allowing everyone to fulfill their abilities, while safeguarding their health, the prime minister said.

Abe said the government is working on drawing up a basic policy by the end of this fiscal year through March to prepare for Emperor Akihito's abdication on April 30, 2019, and Crown Prince Naruhito's accession to the throne the following day. Jiji Press