Some LDP members rap P.M. office over election promises

September 24, 2017

TOKYO- Some Japanese Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers are grumbling over what they view as a hasty decision by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's office on key items in the ruling party's planned election platform. They say the prime minister's office made the decision without paying enough regard to the party's discussions on policy issues.

Abe is expected to announce on Monday his plan to dissolve the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, the country's parliament, for a snap general election in October.

Prior to that, the prime minister is seen disclosing a proposal to change the planned use of additional tax revenue from the consumption tax hike to 10 pct from 8 pct slated for October 2019, in order to take fresh social security system reform measures.

Abe on Saturday told LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Fumio Kishida that he wants the party's election platform to feature five areas including the social security reforms and revisions to the constitution.

On the social security front, Abe is expected to propose remaking the system, currently focusing intensively on assistance to the elderly, into one that provides support to a wider range of the public, especially younger generations.

To realize this, Abe is expected to announce the idea of changing the use of the expected additional revenue from the tax hike. Some 20 pct of the revenue is to be spent to strengthen the social security system and the rest to help fix the tattered state finances.

The use is designated under a 2012 deal between the then ruling Democratic Party of Japan, now the main opposition Democratic Party, and the coalition of the LDP and Komeito.

"A major change in a past promise definitely requires discussions inside our party," an LDP lawmaker told a party meeting last week.

"Worries mount as the population ages," former welfare minister Yuya Niwa told reporters. "We can't just accept a casual idea, without responding to the worries."

The proposed change in the use of the additional revenue is also unpopular with fiscal reform advocates in the party.

This is an example of "extreme populism," a Tax System Research Commission executive said. "How can we leave debt piling up any further?"

In addition, some party members, including former Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, oppose Abe's idea of explicitly stipulating the existence of the Self-Defense Forces in the constitution's war renouncing Article 9 without changing the first two paragraphs.

This is because the idea runs counter to the LDP's constitutional amendment draft released in 2012, which calls for deleting the second paragraph that shows Japan's pledge not to own a land, sea or air force and stipulating instead the establishment of national defense forces.

Considering the negative view of some members, the LDP's upcoming platform is unlikely to include a draft of revised Article 9.

Information that Abe wants to feature the five items in the election platform leaked from sources at the government.

Kishida expressed annoyance to people close to him when the information reached him, complaining that he had not been told of Abe's wish.

This angered a Policy Research Council executive, who said, "The prime minister's office is effectively crafting the party's promises."

But even disgruntled lawmakers are busy preparing for the Lower House election, expected for Oct. 22. On Saturday, Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai told reporters in the western Japan city of Wakayama that the party will be united quickly. Jiji Press