Censure Motion against Abe Voted Down at Upper House

June 24, 2019

Tokyo- The ruling coalition on Monday voted down a censure motion against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament.

Meanwhile, the opposition camp is preparing to introduce a no-confidence motion against his cabinet in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, Tuesday.

The moves precede the end of the current Diet session Wednesday and an Upper House election expected for July.

The motion was jointly submitted by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties Friday, claiming that Abe's arrogance and disrespect for the people and the Diet have created a serious situation that cannot be overlooked.

At an Upper House plenary meeting Monday, the censure motion was rejected by a majority vote, led by the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.

At a meeting of senior party figures earlier in the day, the CDPJ told its opposition colleagues, including the Democratic Party for the People and the Japanese Communist Party, of its intention to introduce a Lower House no-confidence resolution against the Abe cabinet.

The opposition parties agreed to take concerted action on the matter.

"We should clearly express our position against the Abe administration, considering its diplomatic stance and the current state of people's daily lives," CDPJ Secretary-General Tetsuro Fukuyama told a press conference after the meeting.

Fukuyama said opposition parties are expected to decide at a meeting of their leaders Tuesday to submit a no-confidence motion. Jiji Press