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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 24 OcTOber 2017

After election win, Abe prioritizes North Korea, aging Japan

ers’ endorsement to stay in September as leader of the
power in elections for Ja- Liberal Democratic Party.
pan’s more powerful lower That could extend his pre-
house Sunday. miership to 2021, giving him
Abe said Japan’s decreas- more time to try to win a
ing population and ag- reluctant public over to his
ing is “the biggest chal- longtime goal of revising
lenge” for his Abenomics Japan’s pacifist constitu-
policy aimed at Japan’s tion.
economic recovery from In the immediate term, the
deflation. “The problem win likely means a continu-
is progressing by the min- ation of the policies Abe
ute, and we cannot afford has pursued since he took
waiting around.” office in December 2012 —
He promised a compre- a hard line on North Korea,
hensive package by the close ties with Washington,
end of the year to deal including more purchase
with Japan’s demographic of American missile inter-
challenges, including in- ceptors, as well as a super-
vestments in education, loose monetary policy and
productivity improvements push for nuclear energy.
and pension system reform. Stocks rose in Tokyo on
Abe’s ultra-conservative Monday morning.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference at his Liberal Democratic Liberal Democratic Party Abe said he will have
Party headquarters in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 23, 2017. Abe pledged to tackle what he called Ja- and a small coalition part- “deep discussion” on North
pan’s two national crises, the military threat from North Korea and an aging and shrinking popula- ner together secured 313 Korean policies with Presi-
tion, after his ruling coalition was returned to power in Sunday’s elections. seats in the 465-member dent Donald Trump during
(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) lower house, passing the his planned Nov. 5-7 visit in
By MARI YAMAGUCHI lation. lieved to still be held by 310-barrier for a two-thirds Japan.
Associated Press Prime Minister Shinzo Abe North Korea. majority. Abe’s ruling coalition al-
TOKYO (AP) — Fresh off a said at a news conference “I will pursue decisive and Abe said the result showed ready has a two-thirds
decisive election victory, that he is committed to strong diplomacy to tackle “strong support” from the majority in the less power-
Japan’s leader pledged protect the Japanese peo- North Korea’s missile, nu- people and thanked them ful upper house. Having a
Monday to tackle what he ple’s prosperity and peace clear and abduction issues for backing stability and his so-called supermajority in
called Japan’s two nation- from any contingency. He and put further pressure to government’s policies. both houses gives them vir-
al crises: the military threat also referred to Japanese get it to change its policy,” The victory boosts Abe’s tually a free hand to push
from North Korea and an people who were abduct- he said. chances of winning an- even divisive policies and
aging and shrinking popu- ed years ago and are be- His ruling coalition got vot- other three-year term next legislation.q
Kenya president says polls must be this week, despite doubts

electoral commission chief Kenyatta also addressed of the most perilous weeks She fled to the United
By CHRIS TORCHIA Wafula Chebukati and said campaign supporters, say- in its political history, with States, saying she feared
Associated Press the commission has a re- ing that the elections must the criticisms of the elec- for her safety.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — sponsibility to conduct the go ahead despite a boy- tions a blow to a country Shortly before the Aug. 8
Kenyan President Uhuru Ke- election, Kenya’s Daily Na- cott by the main opposition once heralded as a bea- vote, Christopher Msando,
nyatta said the re-run of the tion newspaper reported. candidate, divisions within con of regional stability. an election official who was
presidential election must “We have made funds the country and disagree- In addition to the electoral in charge of the electronic
go ahead as planned on available for the IEBC (the ments within the electoral chairman’s doubt that free voting system and tech-
Thursday, despite the chief electoral commission) to commission. and fair elections can be nology to prevent voter
electoral officer’s recent do its job. Kenyatta’s firm insistence held this week, another fraud, was murdered in an
statement that he cannot Now they really should de- the elections must be held electoral commissioner, unsolved case that fueled
guarantee that the polls liver,” Kenyatta said follow- Thursday added to a cri- Roselyn Akombe, resigned, theories about alleged at-
would be credible. ing the meeting, according sis atmosphere in Kenya, saying credible elections tempts to tamper with the
Kenyatta met Monday with to the newspaper. which is embarking on one are not possible. electoral process. q