LDP to Call for National Campaign to Amend Constitution

Tokyo, Feb. 16 (Jiji Press)--The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will pledge in its policy paper this year to start a national campaign aimed at winning support for constitutional amendments long cherished by Prime Minister Shizo Abe, Jiji Press learned Monday. The LDP is set to adopt policies for 2015, its 60th anniversary year, at a party convention on March 8. A draft outline of party policies makes reference to the party's 60-year history, pointing to a pride in conservatism that members should keep in their hearts. The party started with a policy of amending Japan's constitution to match the country's culture, traditions and characteristics, the draft paper stresses. The paper says the party will aim to compile draft proposals for constitutional amendments at the constitution commissions in both chambers of the Diet, or parliament. With cooperation from LDP supporter organizations, the party will press ahead with a campaign to gain public understanding, it says. With this year's 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the party will reaffirm its policy of encouraging visits to war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, expressing appreciation and condolences to those who lost their lives during the war and renewing the party's resolve for eternal peace, according to the draft paper. The LPD will also promise all-out efforts to achieve victory for all LDP candidates in unified local elections in April, noting the elections are crucial for consolidating footholds to realize its policies. On top of the current goal of rebuilding the number of party members to 1.2 million by the end of this year, the draft paper sets an obligation for each of its Diet lawmakers to gain 4,000 members. The paper also pledges that the party will focus on Abe's economic policy package, deregulation and regional revitalization and will do its best to launch national security legislation, which the LDP has just started discussing with its ruling coalition partner Komeito. END