NUKE REVIVAL IN JAPAN

JAPAN VOTES FOR NUKE REVIVAL

The Journal of Turkish Weekly, December 17, 2012

Japanese citizens chose the conservative Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) to lead the country in an election spurned by over half of voters despite a heavy agenda loaded with economic burdens, the nation’s nuclear future and tense regional ties with both China and North Korea.

Incoming Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a tough nuclear power defender expected to also harden Japan’s tone with its neighbors and strengthen the military.

The LDP won nearly 300 seats of the 480-member lower house, according to unofficial results, claiming power alongside its ally, the New Komeito party, which is projected to maintain 300 seats to give the duo a two-thirds majority in the body.

‘Abe short-sighted’
The new government will likely hold the parliamentary power required for changes yet the LDP expects to make major moves only after the upper house elections in June, which will change half of the seats there. Abe aims to re-open closed nuclear plants in the country despite public reactions after the devastating disaster in Fukushima last year. The mayor of Minamisoma, one of the areas most affected by the earthquake and that has districts located only 16 kilometers from the wreck of the Daiichi nuclear facility, has said he strongly opposes further nuclear moves.

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