Fifty percent of candidates running in the July 21 House of Councillors election cited social welfare reform as a major campaign issue in a survey conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun.
In the survey, which allowed multiple answers, "reforms to public pensions, health care and other social welfare programs" was cited as a top issue by the most candidates, followed by "the economy and job security" at 38 percent and "the consumption tax" at 32 percent. "Amending the Constitution" was the fifth-most cited issue at 20 percent.
Respondents could select up to three issues from 22 options.
The survey, which was conducted from June 10 ahead of the announcement of the election on July 4, queried 370 candidates who had declared they would run. Valid answers were received from 318 candidates, or 86 percent of the total.
Major differences were found between the ruling and opposition parties regarding what issues they plan to emphasize.
Among Liberal Democratic Party candidates, economic and employment measures ranked first, while social welfare reform ranked third.
The LDP has campaigned on the notion that economic growth spurred by Abenomics economic policies will help stabilize the social welfare system.
Candidates from Komeito cited reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and disaster management measures as the their top priorities, followed by economic and job security.
Meanwhile, candidates from opposition parties such as the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), the Democratic Party for the People (DPFP), the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) cited social welfare reform as the top issue. Candidates from Nippon Ishin no Kai said providing free education was their main priority.
When asked about amending the Constitution, 99 percent of LDP candidates and 76 percent of Komeito candidates said the top law should be revised. All candidates from Nippon Ishin no Kai also backed the idea.
Eighty-three percent of CDPJ candidates and all candidates from the JCP and SDP opposed amending the Constitution. Forty-four percent of DPFP candidates opposed constitutional amendment, though 28 percent support such reform.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called on voters to back parties based on whether they intend to debate amending the Constitution.
However, 60 percent of LDP candidates remain undecided about Abe's goal to enforce revisions to the Constitution in 2020, declining to answer a question about the issue.
No Komeito candidates supported Abe's timeline for enforcing the revisions.
When asked about Article 9 of the Constitution, 87 percent of LDP candidates agreed with the party's proposal for an amendment stipulating a legal basis for the Self-Defense Forces. However, 86 percent of Komeito candidates opposed the proposed amendment.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
