Report Cover
Headline
Abe’s push on Collective Defense turned the tide, as LDP Sec-Gen acknowledged
Abstract
LDP lost election it expected to win until a couple weeks ago: the governorship of Shiga Prefecture
Abe’s push on Collective Defense turned the tide, as LDP Sec-Gen acknowledged
The winner is also strongly anti-nuclear
Such defeats affect Abe’s clout within the LDP to get Diet backbenchers to go along with him on stances that are unpopular in their districts, including on “third arrow” issues like TPP
The Nuclear Regulation Authority is about to certify as safe two nuclear reactors in Fukui Prefecture, right next to Shiga
Shiga wants to right to have a say since some of its towns are within 30 kilometers (19 miles) of the reactors
Abe has tried to stay above the nuclear fray, but he may not be able to since some local leaders in Fukui want political cover from the national government
The majority of voters oppose the nuclear restarts, just as they oppose Abe on CSD
Meanwhile, Abe repudiated the statement an aide made to top Chinese leaders that Abe would not visit Yasukuni again