Reuters
Tokyo, June 22: Just a few months ago, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looked to be cruising to a third term that would make him Japan’s longest serving leader and put him on track to achieving his dream of revising its post-war, pacifist constitution.
But suspicions he may have helped a friend get favoured treatment for a business; then rammed legislation through parliament to close the session and end debate over the issue, have led to a sharp slump in support.
A Metropolitan Assembly election in Tokyo July 2, campaigning for which starts Friday, could give clues about how stable his administration really is – a key concern of global investors.
“Things are unravelling fast for Abe and his inner circle,” said Gerry Curtis, a professor emeritus at Columbia University. “I still put my money on Abe surviving and getting a third term, but I am willing to wager much less than I would have put on the table a week ago.”
At the core of Abe’s troubles are concerns he may have intervened to help Kake Gakuen (Kake Educational Institution), whose director, Kotaro Kake, is a friend, win approval for a veterinary school in a special economic zone.
The government has not granted such an approval in decades due to perceived glut of veterinarians.
Abe has repeatedly denied doing Kake any favours.
Potentially more troublesome than the suspicions themselves is the impression among many voters that Abe and his aides, unchallenged and arrogant after more than four years in office, tried to suppress the scandal, in part by smearing an ex-official who went public with allegations and by rushing a contentious bill through parliament to close off debate.
“Chief Cabinet Secretary (Yoshihide) Suga’s haughty attitude at his news conference and his attack on the former official personally were a mistake,” said one Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker.
“That sort of condescending attitude makes people angry.”
Abe, who resigned abruptly after a troubled 2006-2007 tenure as premier, can seek another three-year consecutive term as LDP leader, and hence premier, from September 2018.
No general election need be held until late 2018, but Tokyo voters have a chance to express their views soon.
