Abe on precarious foothold, opposition demands resignation

After the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) disastrous Upper House election on Sunday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has vowed not to resign from his post, saying Japan could not afford the “power vacuum” which would result, but the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the leading opposition party, announced on Monday they are preparing to demand Abe’s resignation.

“Diet elections are votes of confidence in the government. Voters have sent a strong message that they have no confidence in the Abe administration,” DPJ’s Secretary-General Yukio Hatoyama told reporters, according to the Mainichi Shimbun. Other oppositional parties too are calling for Abe’s resignation; Japan Communist Party (JCP) leader Kazuo Shii commented, “Of course he should resign,” and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Mizuho Fukushima expressed similar sentiments.

Some observers have commented that Abe’s decision to not resign came about because there are no immediately obvious LDP candidates who could replace him as prime minister.

LDP’s Secretary-General Hidenao Nakagawa has already offered himself to take the bullet for the abysmal election result by resigning, but it is unlikely that such a move will appease the opposition or even the general public.

“Voters said we must reflect on our shortcomings and refresh the lineup,” Abe said Monday, and announced he intends to make some drastic changes to his Cabinet: “I plan to reshuffle the Cabinet and top party posts at an appropriate time.” LDP officials later suggested the reshuffle will happen in September.

When Abe was asked whether he intends to dissolve the lower house, he replied, “Two years are left in the House of Representatives’ term and it is important to achieve things… but, of course, I’m thinking of holding a House of Representatives election at an appropriate time and go to the people.“