Campaign kicks off for Japan's elections
Source: Agencies |
July 5, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JAPAN'S Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to speed up disaster reconstruction yesterday as he kicked off the campaign for parliamentary elections during a visit to Fukushima.
Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, the New Komeito, are expected to gain a majority of the 242 seats in the less powerful upper house in the July 21 election. That would give them control of both houses of parliament, making it easier to pass legislation.
Abe, whose seat in the lower house is not being contested, said he needed voter support to overcome gridlock and speed up economic measures and reconstruction after the March 2011 tsunami and nuclear disasters.
Abe told a packed crowd that reconstruction from the disaster has lagged behind because a bogged down parliament, with the opposition controlling the upper house, has slowed down legislative procedures.
"Because of the twisted parliament, reconstruction projects don't move forward, our economic recovery programs don't progress in a speedy manner and reforms lag behind," Abe said. "Please let us get out of the gridlock."
About 150,000 people remain displaced from subsequent meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.
While in Fukushima, Abe never mentioned plans to restart nuclear power plants, a reversal from a phase-out plan set by the previous government following the nuclear disaster. Abe has been aggressively trying to export nuclear plants and technology to emerging countries.
Media polls show that economic issues are dominating voter interest, while nuclear energy, diplomacy and security issues are attracting less interest.
Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, the New Komeito, are expected to gain a majority of the 242 seats in the less powerful upper house in the July 21 election. That would give them control of both houses of parliament, making it easier to pass legislation.
Abe, whose seat in the lower house is not being contested, said he needed voter support to overcome gridlock and speed up economic measures and reconstruction after the March 2011 tsunami and nuclear disasters.
Abe told a packed crowd that reconstruction from the disaster has lagged behind because a bogged down parliament, with the opposition controlling the upper house, has slowed down legislative procedures.
"Because of the twisted parliament, reconstruction projects don't move forward, our economic recovery programs don't progress in a speedy manner and reforms lag behind," Abe said. "Please let us get out of the gridlock."
About 150,000 people remain displaced from subsequent meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.
While in Fukushima, Abe never mentioned plans to restart nuclear power plants, a reversal from a phase-out plan set by the previous government following the nuclear disaster. Abe has been aggressively trying to export nuclear plants and technology to emerging countries.
Media polls show that economic issues are dominating voter interest, while nuclear energy, diplomacy and security issues are attracting less interest.
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