Japan's ruling camp retains majority in upper house
Updated: 2016-07-11 10:27
(Xinhua)
|
||||||||
TOKYO -- The Japanese ruling camp led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe retained its majority in the parliament's upper house through a victory on Sunday's election in the chamber and paved way to constitutional amendment as upper house lawmakers who support to review the country's war-renouncing constitution reached two-thirds majority, final election result showed early Monday.
Half seats in the 242-member chamber was contested in the election and the prime minister's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) gained 55 seats, securing a total of 145 seats for the ruling camp. Its small ruling partner of the Komeito Party won 14 seats.
After acknowledging that the ruling coalition won the election and retained the majority in the upper house, Abe told a press briefing during the vote counting that the result showed that his decision on sales tax hike postponement was correct and vowed to promote economy in the future.
In a very cautious way, the prime minister said that the constitutional amendment should be discussed more. "Different parties have different viewpoints on the issue, therefore more discussions should be done, even among the parties that support the amendment," said Abe, but adding that the issue should be raised to the Japanese public.
To launch a Constitution review motion requires approval by two-thirds majority in both chambers of the Japanese bicameral parliament. The Abe-led ruling bloc already secured the overwhelming majority in the lower house.
The prime minister is a well-known historical revisionist who expressed his eagerness to review the Japanese pacifist constitution many times. He indicated before the election that he will try to discuss the Constitution review during the autumn parliament session.
Abe also expressed his disappointment over the election failure of incumbent Minister in charge of Okinawa affairs, but he added that the ruling camp will continue push the planned relocation of the key US Futenma airbase within the Japanese southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.
- Eid al-Fitr celebrated worldwide
- Swedish PM looking at tightening laws after festival sex attacks
- British PM race cut to 3 hopefuls as 2 contenders exit contest
- Chinese herbalists offer free US treatment
- Obama praises Hillary's judgement hours after FBI's censure
- Rio mayor tells Olympic visitors: 'Don't expect New York or London'
- Griezmann scores twice to lift France into Euro final
- Life goes on in flooded Wuhan
- Paper cutouts offer a new view of world landmarks
- Animals occupy Shanghai
- Beijing Muslims mark end of Ramadan
- Remember emerging heroes in China's floods
- Ronaldo powers Portugal into Euro 2016 final
- Culture Insider: Six things you may not know about Minor Heat
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Ministry slams US-Korean THAAD deployment
Two police officers shot at protest in Dallas
Abe's blame game reveals his policies failing to get results
Ending wildlife trafficking must be policy priority in Asia
Effects of supply-side reform take time to be seen
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi to meet Kerry
Chinese stocks surge on back of MSCI rumors
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |