Japan might hold referendum and officially form army

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan wants to hold a referendum this year on revising the constitution, intending to include in it, in particular, a provision on the legality of the country's armed forces, Report informs via TASS.

This is stated in the draft action program of the LDP, published in Tokyo, which is expected to be approved at the party congress on March 17.

Japan's current constitution was adopted in 1947 after Tokyo's defeat in World War II and has not been revised since. Its ninth article prohibits the country from having military potential, creating an army, air force and navy. At the same time, in Japan, back in 1954, the Self-Defense Forces were formed, which are not formally considered an army.

To resolve this contradiction, the LDP has consistently advocated amending Article Nine. “To revise the constitution, we will strive during this year to ask the people’s opinion by holding a referendum,” says the draft action program of the ruling party.

To do this, it is planned to approve a resolution in parliament, for which more than two-thirds of the deputies must vote. The LDP is confident that it will secure the required number of votes. Deciding in a referendum requires a simple majority.