Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is all set to set his eyes on a third term for his government next week to fulfill his long-cherished ambition of amending the country’s war-renouncing constitution, AP reported.
He already has reportedly locked around 70 percent of parliamentarian support from the Liberal Democratic Party. If relected, it will give him more than enough time to spark a change.
His sole challenger, Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister, stood on the opposite side during the debate on Friday, following elections day on September 20.
“I will take on the task of revising the constitution, a postwar challenge that has never been achieved, in order to open a new era,” Abe said at the event.
If he gains victory, he will become Japan’s longest serving leader at the age of 63.
The constitution, drafted by the U.S in 1947 is considered a humiliation after Japan was defeated in World War II. Abe’s legacy includes a long gone desire of his predecessors to amend it.
Earlier this week, Abe hoped that his party could submit a draft revision to a parliamentary session later this year, which seems increasingly possible as his party holds a two-third majority.
His party’s lawmakers cite ‘an unpredictable American leader’ as one of the major concerns as to why he has been given so much support. He has been able to maintain support ratings of about 40 percent despite a number of scandals involving both him and his wife.
