Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledges to amend pacifist constitution amid cronyism scandal
The leader’s political capital is dwindling because of allegations of favouritism linked to a cut-price government land sale to one of his supporters
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed on Sunday to press on with his controversial move to amend Japan’s pacifist constitution, undeterred by a political scandal that has dented his popularity.
Abe’s political capital is dwindling because of a widening scandal over the cut-price sale of government land to one of his supporters, with the opposition suggesting his wife Akie may have played a role.
“I will thoroughly investigate and show the whole picture of what happened,” Abe told the annual meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
“And I will fulfil my duty by rebuilding the [government] organisation so that this will not happen again,” he said, reiterating his resolve to stay in power.
Abe has denied any involvement by him or his wife in the case but protesters have staged rallies across the nation.