10 January 2016•Update: 10 January 2016
TOKYO
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed his party’s hopes of working with interested opposition parties open to revising the country’s pacifist post-World War II constitution.
Kyodo news agency reported Sunday that Abe mentioned the newly formed center-right Initiatives from Osaka party as one such group that could be collaborated with to amend restrictions on Japan engaging in international disputes militarily.
"There are parties that are favorable toward a constitutional revision such as the Initiatives from Osaka," it quoted Abe as telling national broadcaster NHK in an interview.
In order for the constitution to be revised, a proposal needs to secure the support of at least two-thirds of both houses of parliament, where Abe’s government has a majority in the upper house but not the commanding majority that it has in the other body.
A revision must also win majority approval in a national referendum.
In September, the parliament passed controversial security laws following the cabinet’s decision in 2012 to re-interpret the constitution to permit “collective defense,” meaning the ability to support allies near Japan or partners in foreign peacekeeping operations.
Late last month, the cabinet also approved a record defense budget of around $42 billion for the 2016 fiscal year, marking an increase for the fourth straight year.
According to Kyodo, following the election for the upper house this summer, Abe plans to commence parliamentary action on the revision process.
