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© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Abe faces new challenge as he calls snap election
By Mari Yamaguchi and Ken Moritsugu TOKYO©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
37 Comments
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albaleo
Our new slogan:
"I am a teapot."
Alistair Carnell
Not, "I'm a little teapot", more like "I'm a little despot".
Yubaru
Well, here is to hoping that Abe get's more than just a "bloody nose"! How about a TKO!
sensei258
This election is about fear mongering in a desperate attempt to remain in power
Cricky
Put you hand on your hip and take a jump to the right, shout " Bonsai" everything will be alright.
u_s__reamer
The fate of the "strong and stable" Treeza may await the arrogant and brazen Abe with his opportunistic, tax-wasting snap election. Let's hope the hubris of the LDP meets its nemesis in the fake Party of Hope!
Wallace Fred
Oh, it's coming. Mark your calendars!!
Yubaru
Don't know if this was intentional or not, but I just got the image of a bunch of little old and weathered trees dancing around! Lol!
Alfie Noakes
Let's do the Time Warp again!
Mona Lisa Rocketlauncher
I look at this picture of Abe and his cabinet and I reach for the sake.
Then I look at the picture of Koike and her "new" party members and I realize I'm gonna need more alcohol.
Aly Rustom
Just tip me over and throw me out
fxgai
Those children who are going to need to pay more and more in tax to cover all the debts that Abe's LDP has chalked up?
Abe has been in power for 5 years and he's achieved nothing positive for the children of this household. Thank goodness they have loving caring parents.
Alexandre T. Ishii
How can he dissolve parliament as an attempt to reconsolidate his hold on power within the LDP, after a series of scandals and missteps earlier this year? Another theatrical performance to show something 'clean' on him, that's logically insane to most of Japanese people, with exception of his supporters who still believe him as Japan's salvation bringing miracle policies! Insane strategy for those insane LDP+supporters might be the answer...
smithinjapan
Evidently they all have back trouble.
CaptDingleheimer
Woah, those guys mean business! They're doing the "FIGHT-O!!!!" fist pump! That means they're gonna get ish DONE!
Disillusioned
If this is his only platform agenda he has already lost. The people of Japan are more concerned about putting food on the table than putting bombs in DPRK.
paradoxbox
Abe has not achieved any of the main objectives he promised when he was first elected, nor the ones he promised when he was reelected
The ONLY thing he has kept his word on was increasing the consumption tax, but the economy has continued to stagnate and Japanese companies have continued to receive thumpings from more competitive rivals overseas.
Abe literally bought his victories in the past elections with countryside vote subsidies and personal and corporate cronyism. It is time to kick him out and send him to jail. He is a criminal - he should not be leading this country further into his maniacal despot spiral.
Wakarimasen
Party of hope is a lame name. ABBA would be better (Anyone But Bl**dy Abe). although I guess the acronym doesn't work in Japanese.
jiji_bisous
caption to the photo… "pledge to win?" lets hope it's as successful as all Abe-san's other pledges….
papigiulio
Under Abe nothing will change but the scariest thing I saw on TV last night was that Ozawa is also back in business. Why can't this guy just take Aso with him and disappear for ever.
towingtheline
What a sad, depressing photo that instills zero positive energy or motivation. Like 3 day old socks, it's time for something clean, vibrant and fresh...
TrevorPeace
Not a woman in the picture. If that doesn't tell female voters something, they'll get what they deserve.
Speed
Abe's party already controls the Lower House. He really doesn't need to gain more seats in it. It would be nice for him but not necessary.
I think this is an opportunistic gamble that's going to backfire on him. Not to mention, the huge cost it takes to run national elections. What a waste all of this is.
el
Politics of fear, much like GW Bush in 2004. North Korea, for Abe, is the gift that keeps on giving.
Yubaru
One sad thing not covered much in any of the press or media is the first thing Abe said when he talked about his plans for the money collected with the tax increase.
He first talked about Technical Colleges receiving money, and students who come from lower income families, having access to funds to get a higher education. THEN he discussed about child care.
Both of these are very serious issues, but sadly Abe's "promises" can not be counted on!
Jonathan Prin
No change is what comes to my mind when seeing that photo.
It is going to be worst if constitution is turned to "aggressive" instead of pacific.
Hardly no demos from the youth, no time due to work.
Goodlucktoyou
@jonathon. You hit the nail on the head. A large proportion of youngins are non political, Macdonald eating, coffee and tabacco addicts. Manga is their main news source.
Strikebreaker555
First time i've ever seen a nationalistic version of Superman!
Luddite
An hilariously camp photo.
bones
All these PARTIES and none of the common folk ever get invited.
what can we expect in the future, more Floponomics?
gogogo
Photo looks like something out of Germany WW2
Brian Wheway
Go go power rangers!!
B.l. Sharma
PM Abe and Finance Minister Taro Aso looking very determined and enthusiastic to win the coming LOWER HOUSE election with big majority on Oct 22.
Akie
If Abe is reelected, he mus do what a Japanese PM would do and should do, not what an India PM would do nor a Canadian PM should do.