Abe cashing in on North Korea crisis
‘DIVINE AID’ FOR JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER Survey says half of respondents approve of his efforts to deal with situation.
The North Korea crisis has been like “divine aid” for hawkish Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, experts say, burnishing his nationalist credentials and possibly tempting him into a snap election.
Abe is aiming to capitalise on a public perception of strong leadership in a time of crisis, as well as an opposition in turmoil, and is reportedly considering a vote as soon as late October.
Analysts say North Korea’s provocative actions – including a nuclear test and two missile launches over Japan – have fanned the fears of Japanese voters and Abe will use the crisis to justify his call for an early general election.
“For Abe, it’s like divine aid,” said Shinichi Nishikawa, a political analyst at Meiji University.
The crisis has diverted attention away from a series of scandals that have pushed down Abe’s approval ratings, including allegations of favouritism to a friend in a business deal, which the premier strongly denies.
During the scandals, “people thought that he wouldn’t last, but by using his sense of crisis, Abe has managed to turn the situation around”, said Nishikawa.
Abe has sought to deliver a strong but reassuring message to a jittery population by reacting swiftly to missile launches and insisting his government has “complete grasp” of each projectile’s path.
He has also promised to do his best to “secure people’s safety and security”, with the government issuing rapid warnings to residents, complete with sirens and emergency text messages.
In a survey released last week, half of respondents approved of Abe’s efforts to deal with the crisis compared to 37% with the opposite view.
“A sense of crisis has arisen among the Japanese people and they believe the country needs a hawkish leader now,” said historian Hideaki Kase. – AFP