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Japan PM Shinzo Abe calls for snap election
- Thread starter Majine
- Start date
HazySaiyan
Banned
Taking a leaf out of the Theresa May school of politics I see. Although I dont know enough about Japanese politics to know if this is worth the gamble.
shnurgleton
Member
Why are politicians allowed to do this
Valkerionseven
Member
That time of the year again I guess. The recent "scandals" have been nothing largely politics wise, just scapegoating people (mainly the ladies)
Still largely not in favor of. Of the ratio of the population that seems to care enough to express an opinion of it.
Still largely not in favor of. Of the ratio of the population that seems to care enough to express an opinion of it.
Mr. Pointy
Member
I don't know if it'll apply to neatly to Japanese politics, but considering the last few times others have tried this, I hope he'll enjoy his 1-seat majority.
Its a feature of parliamentary democracies unfortunately. Parliamentary systems will never have the stable cycles that the American system has because governments can collapse and have to hold a general election at any time, and a side effect of that is that the party in power often has the ability to call an early election when it wants. Its very hard to actually remove that power.
Abe wants an election cause right now people are too scared to veer from the course. If he can win and shore up support he can use this as a way to push his constitutional agenda.
He wants nuclear weapons and a standing army, this NK business is a gift to him and his far right wacko friends.
D
Deleted member 17706
Unconfirmed Member
Oh, they have definitely been something. Abe hasn't been able to focus on starting constitution revision talks primarily because of the beating he's been deservedly getting as a result of the corruption scandals and his horribly sloppy job of trying to cover them up. He wouldn't be forced to call this election right now if it weren't for them and there's definitely a possibility the LDP will lose their 2/3 majority required to begin constitution revision debate.
This is really his only chance to possibly salvage his power with the Democratic Party in shambles and Tokyo governor Koike's national political party still in an its infancy.
I can only hope the average Japanese person sees how brazen Abe and the LDP is being right now and don't let them get away with it. If they manage to score a big victory despite everything that's going on right now, they will definitely feel emboldened to go down the path of constitution revision and re-militarization.
This is a good thing in principle? If shit doesn't work out, they don't have to just wait it out for years and years. And if people feel someone is abusing it, then, get this, you can actually vote to punish them for it. The basic assumption of any democracy is that people can express themselves competently (voting in their interests and wishes) on a ballot.
If that's not the case, well, then you have bigger issues than snap elections.
Zeouterlimits
Member
Clever move, and pretty damn disgusting.
How could one not play it safe right now.
Ugh. Abe needs to go.
How could one not play it safe right now.
Ugh. Abe needs to go.
BlackLagoon
Member
It's not inherent in parliamentarianism though. I think there are several countries that only allow new elections as a last resort if the government falls and all attempts to find a new one fail. And Norway has no mechanism for calling new elections whatsoever, once elected its parliament is set for the next 4 years regardless of what happens.
Well ppl disliked bush but say us reelection were held right after a national / world scale tragedy like 9/11 he might have rivaled Reagan on electoral votes ... National opinion does surge for incumbents during times of crisis
Yes, the people can vote for Komeito, the Communists, and... the DPJ (snort)
He's going to easily win this, just as his party has the last 70-odd years. There's no credible opposition in Japan.
I'm no expert, but it seems more beneficial to the PM than the opposition to decide when elections are being held.
No?
The usual criticism of snap elections is that it's a way for the party in power to try to game the system by calling the election at the most advantageous time for them at the expense of other parties and their supporters (though as Theresa May and the Tories proved, judging that isn't always easy). Though actually the May thing isn't the best example because the UK introduced restrictions on the early calling of elections in 2011 so Labour had to agree to have an early one in 2017 (which ended up working out very well for them despite what opinion polling showed beforehand).
.... Trumped
Unfortunately, I suspect it'll pay off for him. The DP is all at sea atm with Yamao quitting earlier this month and Maehara struggling to stamp his authority on a party that knows it has problems but is too busy with in-fighting to solve them. Koike's group will probably pinch a few seats but they're an LDP faction in all but name.
Principate
Saint Titanfall
TBF I can feel too much can be taken in analyis by Theresa May's decision. You can't discredit the effect that May is simply an awful campaigner probably amongst the worst pm-wise this country has seen in recent history and conversely Corbyn was pretty decent (which is why he's managed to survive an outright hostile party).
If she was remotely decent I doubt it would have been as close as it was.
QuicheFontaine
Member
Definitely, but it's up to the opposition to be ready for an election at any time.
Because its out of a predictable playbook termed the Shock Doctrine, by Naomi Klein. Its using unstable times to further your unpopular policies. You can manipulate people to do whatever you want if you pick the right time and the right message, even if those people would eventually regret it.
Yeah I would assume the Japan First party will try and use this to pick up a few more seats, but I'm not sure they are any better when it comes to the NK situation.
I wouldn't say they are an LDP faction tho, they may be right wing but they don't particularly like the fact a woman is in charge, and more or less wiped them out of the Tokyo metropolitan gov.
It's too bad Japan is just infested with incapable politicians. The left has no one they can rally behind, which is poison for left wing politics. Young folks need inspiration and hope that things can change, but Japanese politicians are like anti all of the above. Just a bunch of out of touch old men. Policies of the Japanese government largely seen as ineffectual and irrelevant to most people, which is a recipe for indifference.
DominusLeges
Member
This is his step 1 for the militarization of Japan. The outrageously large majority of the older population will ensure he's successful.
Dynamite Shikoku
Congratulations, you really deserve it!
Hope it blows up in his face
MikeHattsu
Member
Can choose between the old conservative party or the new conservative party then:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2...solves-lower-house-opposition-bands-together/
Oh, and before they became a proper political party named Party of Hope, they were known as Japan First:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2...tical-group-shake-japans-political-landscape/
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2...solves-lower-house-opposition-bands-together/
Oh, and before they became a proper political party named Party of Hope, they were known as Japan First:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2...tical-group-shake-japans-political-landscape/
God Dayumm
Banned
These things should only be allowed if the PM/president is about to resign
VendettaRed07
Member
I think tactical election dates are one of the worst things about most parliamentary systems. Election dates should be set. You shouldn't be able to look at your approval ratings and get an extra couple years out of it
Chaos2Frozen
Member
My understanding is that young Japanese adults are extremely disillusioned about their political system that they don't bother voting.
I don't know if that's been improved since the last time they let Abe get voted back in.
But hey who knows, maybe Persona 5 have changed their hearts this time.
I don't know if that's been improved since the last time they let Abe get voted back in.
But hey who knows, maybe Persona 5 have changed their hearts this time.
Meh, Abe andhis party already did populist rhetoric long before the black vans arrived. Heck executions in Japan: The prime minister can decide who gets to die and when
.Soooooo.... basically if he wants to seem "tough on crime", he opens the book, finds someone the public really hates and calls an execution to "seem soooo tough!".
If you're sentenced to death, you do not know when you die, it is decided by the aforementioned. So yeah.... no need for him to worry, his party will go full on the populist organ.
MikeHattsu
Member
Well, doubt that the biggest party on the left just disbanded now and everybody is going to join the new right wing conservative party instead is helping much
Chaos2Frozen
Member
Well, doubt that the biggest party on the left just disbanded now and everybody is going to join the new right wing conservative party instead is helping much
...Well... shit ^^;
llien
Member
I heard about military buildup plans, but, nuclear? Japan has signed nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Boosting anti-missile capabilities sounds reasonable to me..
Well, "dementia tax" did it (or so was I told), it's a fuckup inside the right move: having election when your popularity peaks.
They'll use NK as an excuse to ramp up military spending and amend Constitution for preemptive strikes with self defense force.
The real threat they see is the rising Chinese navy. China's navy will likely surpass US in next two decades, which will give them far too much power in trade negotiations and saber rattling like South East Seas.
StrangeRoboMemory
Member
D
Deleted member 13876
Unconfirmed Member
He has the Death Note?
I actually like that parties can call snap election, it was a feature in Canada. Yes, in theory an incumbent party can "take advantage" of the polls, but just as often people resent it and vote them out, so it's a pretty risky proposition. The advantage is that we avoid these protracted two-year election cycles that countries with fixed dates seem to suffer.
You think you hate a party because they force you to hear about them for 30 days during a time you didn't expect? How about hearing about them for a year during a time you will expect?
You think you hate a party because they force you to hear about them for 30 days during a time you didn't expect? How about hearing about them for a year during a time you will expect?
moffattron9000
Member
As someone else from a country with a parliamentary system (New Zealand), it's great. It's also is especially essential when you have proportional representation, since PR can create unstable coalitions (usually containing Winston Peters), which can collapse. I'd rather vote two years after an election if a government falls apart, then go the full three years with a zombie government.
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
it's not like snap elections are the only way to call reelections. Many parliamentary systems have failsafes that call for elections if a coalition breaks up or can't be formed in a certain time period in the first place.