LAST year Japan lowered the voting age from 20 to 18. But Minami, a high-schooler from Tokyo, does not plan to vote in an election for the upper house of the Diet, or parliament, on July 10th. Like many Japanese, she finds politics dull. The upcoming election will probably not change their views.
The government, led by Shinzo Abe, is likely to trounce the floundering opposition. Mr Abe’s poll ratings have been boosted by the government’s competent handling of earthquakes that struck Kumamoto prefecture in April, and by Barack Obama’s emotional visit to Hiroshima the following month. Low turnout benefits his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which runs an effective get-out-the-vote machine.
Mr Abe also stands to benefit from the post-Brexit-vote financial turmoil. The government can now blame external factors for its economic woes, which include deflation, flaccid consumption and sluggish wages. Before postponing a planned tax hike on June 1st, he warned of an impending economic crisis, and was roundly mocked. Now he seems prudent. Economic upheaval may make his campaign themes of stability and competence all the...Continue reading
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