Kishida vows to overcome ‘greatest postwar difficulties’

The Yomiuri Shimbun

17:47 JST, July 11, 2022

Calling the current situation of rising prices and national security issues one of the most difficult of the postwar period, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday expressed his determination to implement a series of measures.

The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party was speaking a day after his ruling coalition won over half the seats up for grabs in the House of Councillors election, extending its majority in the upper house.

“We are facing one of the most difficult situations of the postwar period, one that requires us to run the government in a time of emergency,” Kishida said during a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Tokyo.

“I will solidify the unity of the ruling parties and work on breaking through this difficult situation,” said Kishida, who earlier in the day held a meeting with the leader of coalition partner Komeito, Natsuo Yamaguchi, at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Kishida also mentioned former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot dead Friday.

“I will keep alive former Prime Minister Abe’s thoughts and tackle thorny issues such as the abduction issue and amending the Constitution,” Kishida said, referring to the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea.

As for constitutional revision, the prime minister expressed his eagerness to take the lead in Diet discussions, with a view toward initiating the amendment process as soon as possible.

As for the reshuffling of his Cabinet and the LDP leadership, widely expected in late August, Kishida did not elaborate, saying only, “At this point, I have not decided on anything concrete.”