AFP, TOKYOJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling bloc was yesterday on track to retain its majority in the upper house of parliament after an election for about half of the seats in the body, local media reported. The result would shore up Abe’s ruling coalition ahead of a tax hike later this year and keep alive his plan to amend the nation’s pacifist constitution. Abe, who is on course to become Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was widely expected to maintain his majority, mostly due to a lackluster opposition. He also hopes to secure a two-thirds majority in the upper house to keep alive his plans to amend the constitution’s provisions on the military. “Since the ruling coalition is widely expected to win the election, attention is now focused on whether the pro-revision forces can win a two-thirds majority,” Nishikawa said.

Source: Taipei Times July 21, 2019 15:56 UTC