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Japan opposition urges high turnout in elections

13 December 2014 19:56 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Opposition parties in Japan have called on the people to take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections in a bid to prevent a landslide victory for the ruling party, APA reports quoting Press TV.

“One of the key issues is whether to allow the LDP [Liberal Democratic Party] to become a huge ruling party,” said Koichi Takemasa, a member of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), during an electoral campaign in the capital, Tokyo, on Saturday.

The LDP is headed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Another opposition lawmaker also lashed out at Abe for his disregard of the country’s anti-war constitution, saying the premier aims to exert force overseas to further his plans.

Earlier in January, Abe announced that he seeks the modification of an article in the country’s constitution that restrains any Japanese military action only to self-defense.

“A vote for the LDP would turn out to allow participation in war,” said Yoshiko Kira, a lawmaker from Japanese Communist Party (JCP).

Japan’s parliamentary elections are due to be held on December 14. Surveys show that many enfranchised people in Japan do not aim to take part in the elections, much to the benefit of the ruling party.