Shinzo Abe is on course to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister—and achieve his goal of revising the country's pacifist constitution—after he was comfortably re-elected president of the ruling Liberal Democratic party [LDP] on Thursday, September 20.
Abe's victory—taking 553 votes out of a total of 807—means he is assured of continuing as prime minister and is expected to use his mandate to push ahead with controversial plans to strengthen the legal status of Japan's military, known as the self-defence forces.
Speaking on the eve of the vote among LDP MPs and party members, Abe said he was determined to "Build a new country together", adding: "I promise to take the lead in handing over a proud and hopeful Japan to younger generations."
Abe wants to officially change Article 9 of the constitution to recognize Japan’s self-defense forces as a legal organization. Article 9 was added to Japan’s constitution after Japan’s involvement in World War II. It states that the country surrenders its right to an armed force, so the current self-defense force violates the constitution. Legalizing the force would also permit the country to send troops overseas and take military action. The possible threats from both North Korea and China are a big impetus to change the constitution.