CDP Signals Change of Position on Security Legislation

Tokyo, Oct. 30 (Jiji Press)–The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is showing signs of changing its position on the country’s national security legislation, in an apparent shift toward realism to take the helm of the government. The main opposition party has claimed that the security legislation, which allows Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense, is partly unconstitutional. However, former CDP leader Yukio Edano said at a meeting in the city of Saitama, north of Tokyo, last week that there were “no unconstitutional parts” in the legislation so “there is no need to change it.” Edano, the face of the party’s liberal wing, founded the CDP after being excluded from the now-defunct Party of Hope in 2017 over his opposition to the security legislation. His remarks surprised some party members and supporters because they affect the party’s foundation. Edano “denied the party’s raison d’etre,” said a lawmaker who is a founding member of the CDP. When asked about Edano’s remarks, CDP policy chief Satoshi Honjo said at a press conference Wednesday, “It was not the party’s position, but a personal view.” Earlier in October, the CDP was urged by the fellow opposition Democratic Party for the People to retract its pledge to remove unconstitutional parts from the security legislation, when it held talks with the DPFP and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) to cooperate in last week’s parliamentary election for prime minister, which did not come to fruition. At a meeting with the DPFP and Nippon Ishin leaders on Oct. 15, Noda said that “no unconstitutional parts have been found so far” in the security legislation. A senior CDP official expressed understanding of the recent remarks by Edano and Noda, noting that 10 years have passed since the security legislation’s establishment and that Japan’s security cooperation with the United States and others is now based on the legislation. “There is no choice but to recognize the security legislation as constitutional” to win power at the next opportunity, the official said. Still, repercussions from Edano’s remarks are spreading within the CDP and the opposition camp. On Tuesday, the CDP held an online meeting where many participants questioned his remarks. Concerns were also raised at a meeting of party executives the same day. Akira Koike, head of the secretariat of the Japanese Communist Party, has criticized Edano’s remarks, saying they “deny the CDP’s original view.” Meanwhile, DPFP head Yuichiro Tamaki has welcomed the remarks as “a change in the right direction.” Tamaki said, “Why didn’t he say that two weeks ago?” suggesting that his party could have cooperated with the CDP in the prime minister election. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]