World

Japan PM confident on progress in amending constitution

Japan PM confident on progress in amending constitution

TIL Desk/World/Tokyo/ Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is “confident” of progress in amending Japan’s pacifist constitution, he said today, in his first policy speech since his landslide election victory. Abe’s conservative coalition held a two-thirds “super majority” in the 465-seat lower house last month, giving him the numbers to realise a long-held dream.

“I’m confident that debate on amending the constitution will be able to advance,” he told the newly formed parliament. However, in his today’s policy speech, he steered clear of giving any time frame and has previously said he will move cautiously on the divisive issue.

Nationalists like Abe say the constitution is a humiliating relic imposed by US occupiers after Japan’s defeat in World War II. Abe wants to change the wording of the document to affirm Japan’s right to have a full-fledged military. The country’s well-equipped and well-trained armed forces are technically known as the “Self-Defense Forces”, and do not have the right to an aggressive strike.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *