Japan votes in major elections in the shadow of Abe’s assassination

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Tokyo — Japanese voted in the shadow of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination on Sunday, avoiding the party leader’s mixing with the crowd and delivering a message in support of democracy and free speech during the previous day’s campaign, so it’s safe. The sex has increased.

An exit poll of the House of Councilors election showed that Prime Minister Abe’s ruling party is still upset by the impact of the Friday shooting, so it is certain that he will win a big victory.

Also on Sunday, police in Western Japan sent the alleged assassin to the local public prosecutor’s office for further investigation. Top local police officials acknowledged the possibility of security breaches that allowed attackers to be very close and fire bullets at still influential former Japanese leaders.

NHK’s public broadcast and other media exit surveys have shown that the LDP (LDP) is certain to secure a majority of 125 seats, half of the House of Councilors. This will be a great boost to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who will continue to govern until the elections scheduled for 2025.

With the assassination of Prime Minister Abe, Sunday’s elections have new implications, emphasizing the importance of free speech and their pledge that all political leaders will not retreat to violence against democracy.

Security has also been enhanced. On the final day of Saturday’s campaign, the leader avoided Fistbumps, a COVID-19 alternative to shaking hands, and other close friendly gestures he enjoyed with the general public.

The mourners visited the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters, bloomed and prayed to Prime Minister Abe as party leaders preparing to count the votes.

Fumio Kishida said at the final rally in northern Niigata on Saturday that “violence absolutely refuses to block free speech.” “We must demonstrate that democracy and elections do not retreat to violence.”

Japanese elections
Local Election Commission officials wear protective masks and observe voters voting in the Upper House elections held at polling stations in Tokyo on July 10, 2022. (Eugene Hoshiko / AP Photo)

Prime Minister Abe was shot dead in Nara on Friday and airlifted to a hospital, but died of blood loss. Police arrested a former member of the Japanese Navy at the scene and confiscated a homemade gun. Some others were later found in his apartment.

Tetsuya Yamagami, the suspect, told investigators that he had acted because Abe had been rumored to have a relationship with an indignant organization, but the political views of the former leader were fine. According to media reports, the man hated a religious group whose mother was obsessed with and bankrupted his family business. It also includes those who have identified the group as the Unification Church.

Akie Abe’s body was a black sacred car accompanied by his wife, Akie Abe, and returned to his high-class Shibuya home in Tokyo, where many mourners, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and party leaders, paid homage. His awakening and funeral are expected in the coming days.

Epoch Times Photo
Flower shop representatives bring condolence flowers to the Tokyo mansion of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was hit deadly in a city in western Nara on Friday, July 10, 2022. (Eugene Hoshiko / AP photo)

Nara Prefectural Police Tomoaki Onizuka said on Saturday that the assassination of Abe was the “greatest regret” of his 27-year career. He said security issues were undeniable and would take the shooting seriously and consider security procedures.

Even after resigning as Prime Minister in 2020, Prime Minister Abe had a great influence on the LDP and led the largest faction. According to experts, his absence could change the balance of power of the ruling party, which has ruled postwar Japan almost uninterrupted since its founding in 1955.

With Prime Minister Abe already undergoing a fundamental transformation, it is unlikely that Japan’s current diplomatic and security stance has been shaken. His nationalist views and practical policies have made him a divisive figure for many, including South Korea and China.

Prime Minister Abe resigned two years ago and accused him of relapsed ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager. He set many of his goals, including the issue of the Japanese abducted by North Korea a few years ago, the territorial issue with Russia, and the revision of Japan’s war abandonment constitution, which many conservatives consider humiliation. He said he regrets leaving it unfinished. ..

Prime Minister Abe was groomed to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather Nobusuke Kishi. His political rhetoric often focused on making Japan an “ordinary” and “beautiful” country with a stronger army through its security alliance with the United States and its greater role in international affairs.

He became Japan’s youngest prime minister at the age of 52 in 2006. However, his overly nationalistic first mission abruptly ended a year later for his health, prompting a six-year annual change of leadership.

He took office in 2012 and vowed to revitalize the country and lift the economy out of deflationary stagnation with a formula of “Abenomics” that combines fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reform. He won six national elections.

Associated Press

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