Japan’s governing party and its coalition partner won a major victory in a parliamentary election on Sunday, possibly prompted by sympathy votes in the wake of the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
Early results in the race for the upper house of parliament showed Abe’s governing party and its junior coalition partner Komito securing a majority in the chamber and adding more. A day after Abe was shot dead while delivering a speech, the last day of campaigning was held under tight security on Saturday as party leaders pledged to uphold democracy and renounce violence.
Also on Sunday, police in western Japan sent the alleged killer to a local prosecutor’s office for further investigation. A top regional police officer acknowledged possible security lapses that allowed the attacker to get so close and fire a shot at the still influential former Japanese leader.
Preliminary votes showed the governing Liberal Democratic Party on track to secure a coalition of at least 143 seats in the 248-member upper house, the less powerful of the two chambers. The election was half of the upper house’s new six-year term. With a potential major boost, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stands to rule without interruption until a scheduled election in 2025.
This allows Kishida to work on long-term policy goals such as national security, his signature but still vague “New Capitalism” economic policy, and his party’s long-cherished goal of amending a post-war pacifist constitution drawn up by the US. will allow.
Kishida and senior party lawmakers observed a moment of silence for Abe at the party election headquarters before putting up whiteboard victory ribbons next to the names of candidates who had secured their seats.
In the wake of Friday’s brutal murder, Sunday’s vote took on a whole new meaning, with all political leaders emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression and their pledge not to back down from violence against democracy.
“It was extremely worthwhile that we made the choice,” Kishida said. “Our effort to protect democracy continues.”
Kishida welcomed the early results and said the response to COVID-19, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising prices would be his priorities. He said he would continue to push for a constitutional amendment to strengthen Japan’s national security as well.
Preliminary results suggested that a charter change proposal is now a possibility. The LDP and its junior partner as well as the two pro-opposition parties are certain to secure enough seats for an amendment motion that requires a two-thirds majority in both houses. The governing bloc has already found support in the second chamber.
On Saturday, the last day of campaigning, party leaders avoided scuffles or other close-knit friendly gestures with the public – a sign of tight security following the assassination of Abe during a campaign rally.
Mourners visited the LDP headquarters and offered flowers and prayed for Abe as party officials prepared to count the votes.
“We see violence as a complete denial of freedom of expression,” Kishida said at his last rally in the northern city of Niigata on Saturday. “We must demonstrate that our democracy and elections will not back down from violence.”
Abe was shot in Nara on Friday and taken to hospital but died of blood loss. Police arrested a former member of the Japanese Navy from the scene and confiscated a homemade gun. Several others were later found in his apartment.
Police said the suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, told investigators that he took action in relation to a rumor from an organization of Abe, which angered him, but had no problem with the former leader’s political views. According to media reports, the man had developed a hatred for a religious group his mother was obsessed with and that bankrupted a family business, with some identifying the group as the Unification Church.
Abe’s body, accompanied by his wife, Aki, in a black dress, was returned to their home in Tokyo’s upscale Shibuya, where many mourners, including Kishida and top party officials, paid tribute. His wake up and funeral is expected in the coming days.
Nara Prefectural Police Chief Tomoyaki Onizuka said on Saturday that the problems with security were undeniable, that he took the shooting seriously and would review security procedures.
Japan is known for its strict gun laws. With a population of 125 million, there were only 21 criminal cases related to guns in 2020, according to the latest government crime sheet. Experts say, however, that some recent attacks have involved the use of consumer goods such as gasoline, which increases the risk for ordinary people engaging in mass attacks.
Even after stepping down as prime minister in 2020, Abe was highly influential in the LDP and headed its largest faction. Experts say his absence could alter the balance of power in the ruling party, which has ruled Japan almost uninterruptedly since its 1955 foundation.
“This could be a turning point for the LDP on its divisive policies on gender equality, same-sex marriage and other issues that were opposed by Abe-backed ultra-conservatives,” said Mitsuru Fukuda, a crisis management professor at the Nihon. university.
Japan’s current diplomatic and security stance is unlikely to be affected as fundamental changes had already been made by Abe. His ultra-nationalist views and pragmatic policies made him a divisive figure for many, including Korea and China.
Abe stepped down two years ago alleging a recurrence of ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager. He said he regretted that he had left many of his goals unfulfilled, including the issue of Japanese abduction by North Korea years ago, a territorial dispute with Russia, and a revision of Japan’s war-abandoning constitution, which many conservatives consider an insult. because of poor public support.
Abe was modeled to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. His political rhetoric often focused on making Japan a “normal” and “beautiful” nation through a security alliance with the United States and a larger role in international affairs.
He became the youngest Prime Minister of Japan in 2006 at the age of 52. But his highly nationalistic first term ended abruptly a year later, also because of his health, leading to an annual six-year leadership change.
He returned in 2012 with his “Abenomics” formula, vowing to revive the nation and lift its economy out of its deflationary gloom, which combines fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reforms. He won six national elections and held a firm grip on power.