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By Mari Yamaguch<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Days after his assassination, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe\u2019s party vowed to use its sizable victory in a parliamentary election to achieve his unfinished goals, including strengthening the military and revising the country\u2019s pacifist, postwar constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The governing Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito secured a majority in the parliament\u2019s upper house in elections Sunday that took on new meaning after Abe was shot to death while campaigning Friday in a crime that shook the nation. The result means Prime Minister Fumio Kishida could rule uninterrupted until a scheduled election in 2025 and allows him to work on long-term policies \u2014 but the constitutional amendment would still face an uphill battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kishida welcomed the victory but also acknowledged the need to unify the party without Abe, who even after resigning as prime minister in 2020 remained a force in the party and national politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause we\u2019ve lost a great leader, undeniably we could be affected in many ways,\u201d Kishida said. \u201cOur party must unite as we face difficult issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine and rising prices would be his priorities. But he also vowed to push for reinforcing Japan\u2019s national security and amending the constitution, which only allows the country\u2019s military to act in self-defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abe and some of the country\u2019s ultra-conservatives consider the document written by the U.S. in the wake of World War II a humiliation and have long sought to turn the country\u2019s Self Defense Force into a full-fledged military. But many in the public are more supportive of the document and see addressing the pandemic and the soaring cost of food, fuel and childcare as more pressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will inherit his will and tackle the issues he had to leave unachieved,\u201d Kishida said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To propose a constitutional amendment, both houses of parliament need to support it by a two-thirds majority. Sunday\u2019s vote gave the LDP-led coalition and two opposition parties open to a charter revision that margin in the upper chamber of parliament. Alone the governing coalition now has 146 of the house\u2019s 248 seats. All four parties together control 179. That group of four parties also has the necessary seats in the more powerful lower house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it\u2019s far from clear sailing: Komeito, the centrist party that forms part of the governing coalition, says changing the article in the constitution that puts constraints on the military is unnecessary. In addition, any amendment would need to secure a majority of support in a national referendum to pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abe, who stepped down as prime minister two years ago, citing health reasons, said at the time he regretted leaving many of his goals unfinished, including revising the constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday evening, a wake was held for Abe at a Buddhist temple in downtown Tokyo where Kishida and top former and current political leaders, as well as ordinary mourners, paid tribute. Some broke down in tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A funeral is planned at the temple Tuesday by his family. The government is expected to hold a separate memorial service at a later date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Kishida to offer condolences and deliver a letter from President Joe Biden to Abe\u2019s family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe simply want them to know that we deeply feel the loss on the personal level as well,\u201d Blinken told Kishida. \u201cMostly I\u2019m here because the United States and Japan are more than allies \u2014 we are friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blinken said Abe \u201cdid more than anyone to elevate the relationship between the United States and Japan to new heights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Japan\u2019s longest-serving political leader, Abe was the grandson of another prime minister and became the country\u2019s youngest leader in 2006, at age 52. That stint in office abruptly ended a year later, also because of his health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He returned to the premiership in 2012, vowing to revitalize the nation and get its economy out of its deflationary doldrums with his \u201cAbenomics\u201d formula, which combines fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reforms. He won six national elections and built a rock-solid grip on power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Sunday, the suspect accused of his murder was transferred to a local prosecutors\u2019 office for further investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Police said the suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, told investigators he acted because of Abe\u2019s rumored connection to an organization that he resented. Some Japanese media identified the group as South Korea\u2019s Unification Church, and reported that the suspect\u2019s mother donated large amounts of money to the church. They suggested that the donations and her subsequent bankruptcy were a possible motive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Japan branch of the church acknowledged Monday that the suspect\u2019s mother was a member, but denied that it demanded large donations from anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the church, declined comment on the specifics of donations, saying a police investigation was ongoing. Speaking in generalities, he confirmed some people had made generous donations, but stressed none were forced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tanaka said Abe was not a member though he supported its global peace movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Originally published at AP<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Mari Yamaguch Days after his assassination, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe\u2019s party vowed to use its sizable victory in a parliamentary election to achieve his unfinished goals, including strengthening the military and revising…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8],"tags":[2474,2476,2475],"class_list":["post-7283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","tag-abe","tag-assassination","tag-japan"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n