Japanense Prime Minister under scandal shadow

– Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, now in a rare fifth year as leader, is battling scandals on two separate fronts as questions swirl about his ties to a nationalist school involved in a murky land deal and his defence minister faces growing calls to resign.

The scandals, which analysts say present the most serious crisis for Abe since he returned to office in 2012, appear likely to further erode his support rates, now about 50%.

They are also denting his image as an invincible leader with a shot at becoming Japan’s longest-serving premier, although so far most political experts are betting he can survive.

“I think his dream of a super-long administration is beginning to crumble,” said Minoru Morita, an independent political analyst.

Abe’s term as ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president ends in 2018 but a rule change means he can run for a third three-year term, allowing him to remain premier as long as the LDP stays in power.

The furore is distracting the government at a time when Japan needs to focus on economic talks with US President Donald Trump’s administration and domestic issues including structur- al reforms to generate growth.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga had said on Thursday Abe had not donated money to Moritomo Gakuen school either himself or through a third party, including his wife, Akie.

The comments came after opposition lawmakers said the school principal, Yasunori Kagoike, told them Akie had donated one million yen (about R113 000) in 2015. –