Venezuela slams Kono's remarks as interference

For upper-level classes, Venezuela is a good opportunity to instruct regarding hyperinflation (seemingly bookshelved between Rwanda and Turkey). It's government has no place in complaining about anything.

Japan with almost no existing political opposition, strong political corruption, an oligarchy based regime and a government (the LDP) which has almost non-stop hold full power on the country for more than 50 years, has no rights to give democracy lessons to the rest of the world.

Haha, coming from that socialist failed state? It's only a matter of time before Venezuela completely collapses into anarchy

A still tongue maketh a wise head!

Japan with almost no existing political opposition, strong political corruption, an oligarchy based regime and a government (the LDP) which has almost non-stop hold full power on the country for more than 50 years, has no rights to give democracy lessons to the rest of the world.

Not sure why you got thumbed down so many times, some people can't stand the truth I guess.

Japan with almost no existing political opposition, strong political corruption, an oligarchy based regime and a government (the LDP) which has almost non-stop hold full power on the country for more than 50 years, has no rights to give democracy lessons to the rest of the world.

Not sure why you got thumbed down so many times, some people can't stand the truth I guess.

Because it's factually wrong on almost every level. Japan has plenty of political opposition, people just don't vote for them. Japan's corruption index is nothing compared most other countries. Try living in Nigeria. Every society has an oligarchy based regime where power lies in the hands of a few. That's how power works. The fact that Japanese don't vote for anyone other the LDP is a fault of the Democratic process. The people have a choice and can vote them out of they want, as they have shown.

The fact that Japanese don't vote for anyone other the LDP is not a fault of the Democratic process. The people have a choice and can vote them out of they want, as they have shown.

Sorry about that.

Japan with almost no existing political opposition, strong political corruption, an oligarchy based regime and a government (the LDP) which has almost non-stop hold full power on the country for more than 50 years, has no rights to give democracy lessons to the rest of the world.

Not sure why you got thumbed down so many times, some people can't stand the truth I guess.

Comments get downvoted when they are silly and not based on any semblance of reality:

No existing opposition? The LDP has a little over 50% in both houses of the Diet. Is that no opposition?

Political corruption? Jeez, how many times have we heard this one before? Where are the prosecutions? Are we comparing Japan to corruption-free countries like the US?

An oligarchy? Haha what do exactly do you think political power is? A commune where everyone shares? What delusional world is this?

Almost non-stop hold on power? So? That's a failure of the opposition not the incumbents.

With this silly logic, no country on Earth has any right to give democracy lessons to anyone.

Japan is not wrong here, in what they say, but the nation is sorely lacking in HOW it says and does things, which is why it is so far behind in diplomacy. Still, I wouldn’t worry terribly much about what a Venezuelan leader says... unless you’re getting your gas directly from them.

Japan is not wrong here, in what they say, but the nation is sorely lacking in HOW it says and does things, which is why it is so far behind in diplomacy

Yeah exactly! Why can't Japan be better at diplomacy like America's Trump, UK's BoJo, Canada's Freeland, or any other comparable morons? What a hilariously silly comment

The same names keep cropping up...

Venezuela, like all Latin countries, ranks pretty high on the list of countries you don't want to mess with when you're on their turf.

Marcelito, you should look into this a bit more closely. While blessed with ample petroleum reserves, most of it is in difficult to extract tar-sand like deposits. Venezuela could do it themselves provided they have the technology and they make the required investments to implement it, but the former is low and the latter entirely lacking. The US really has nothing to do with their predicament (and I say this as a liberal).

Venezuela is a big bright warning sign for those in the West who seek to go further down the path of Socialism. It’s an ideology incompatible with basic human nature - a fact proven over and over again over the past century.

> darknutsToday  05:23 pm JST

The fact that Japanese don't vote for anyone other the LDP is not a fault of the Democratic process. The people have a choice and can vote them out of they want, as they have shown.

I agree 200 percent. The Japanese people vote for the LDP because they are the party of stability and growth. Soaring economy, low unemployment and strong leadership. Opposition parties are the parties of chaos and recklessness and will I hope never return to power. Japanese are sensible and elect LDP. There is NO problems at all with democracy in Japan.

And I agree with Kono. Venezuala should heed the advice of Leaders in World Democracy - Japan and USA.

Ha! Ha! A Japanese politician lecturing other countries about democracy? Japan might state they are a democratic country, but having a country run by a bureaucratic hierarchy is much closer to fascism than democracy.

"Soaring economy"

If the economy is soaring, why does the BOJ need to keep buying into the stock market ? Also why are a record number of children livng in poverty?

Kono is wrong and should be replaced.

Japan should not take side here, it is against their own interest to meddle in the relation between Venezuela and other latin countries, that was a real mistake and Kono should apologies for this and even take the time to approach Venezuela too..

The grave, fundamental flaw of democracy in the La-La Land of Wa, and the malodorous elephant in the Diet for decades, is the chronic "state of unconstitutionality" that has hollowed out the democratic bones of the body politic to the advantage of one ruling right-wing party and to the detriment of the opposition, namely the glaring vote disparity that privileges the dwindling residents of the underpopulated rural areas and penalizes the more numerous population dwelling in the urban centers. You might call this egregiously but exquisitely gerrymandered electoral system a "democracy" comprising subtly inherent voter suppression, which could perhaps be regarded as the politely informal Japanese equivalent of America's musty Electoral College that has recently got that country into "another fine mess". J-pols may have the right to criticize other countries for their dubious democratic credentials, but following the wise advice of a sage philosopher they ought first to cast out the beam from their own eye before removing the mote from the eye of Venezuela.

Kono forgot that Japan is not a sovereign country, while you have 50,000 soldiers from another country sitting on your land.

Maybe he can get a can of spinach and a cigar from President Nicoles Maduro!

To call others to do things that others unwilling to do is itself undemocratic. Japan should look inward for the true meaning of democracy, not just the name of it. Call a party a democratic doesn't make it a one. Call a leader a democratic elected doesn't make it a one either. Democracy is about people, not about a leader, or a party. In this sense, Japan isn't a democratic state, as simple as that.

How about restore Capitalism, Property rights and Rule of Law instead?

Japanese majority clearly are against change the peace constitution, yet Abe publicly stated that his goal is to against the majority. 

@ akie : Dont believe the polls. The majority of Japanese now DO want constitution change. Especially younger voters, 18-25. Very dangerous time in Japan. PM Abe will enact the changes, and Japan will be side by side the USA fighting to protect both nations.

Agree with other posters, Japan is a fascist dictatorship and should stay out of others' business. In comparison, Venezuela is a successful utopia of happiness and shared and equal wealth

@ ipanama Beach: What a ridiculous nonsense. Japan is a demicracy with total freedom and liberty. Venezuala is miserable 3rd wirld communist regime, very dangerous. their people deserve to be condemned by Abe Cabinet members and Trump.

Japanese majority clearly are against change the peace constitution, yet Abe publicly stated that his goal is to against the majority. 

The people of Japan could vote his party out of power if the Constitution issue is important to them.

Foot in mouth. Japan never was good at diplomacy. They never learnt to see things as if the table were turned around. Give it a few more generations, with all the new ‘half’ that will be entering society, and we will have a shot at some interesting diplomacy. These future leaders will have parents & grandparents from other parts of the world, will live in a multicultural environment, and so will begin to see things differently..I hope.

Ganbare Japan!, since when does the United States of America needs Japan's protection ?

Wolfpack, do Japanese people have choices ? LDP is the only ugly husband in town, take it or leave it, you have choice and freedom to choose. What a joke.

Venezuela sucks anyway.

By the way, LDP isn't supported by majority Japanese people, though LDP calls itself a majority party.

By the way, LDP isn't supported by majority Japanese people, though LDP calls itself a majority party.

And yet they keep getting elected...

It's laughable to hear people compare places like Japan to places like Venezuela. I mean really? Do you people hear yourselves?

The leaders of Venezuela ought to be measured by their own socialist yardstick.

“PEACE, BREAD & LAND” comes to mind.

Of those the failure to provide “bread” is the most salient. To continue to pursue policies that starve their own people for the sake of holding on to power is shameful.

“PEACE, BREAD & LAND” comes to mind.

2 thumbs down? Sounds like a good slogan to me.

Venezuelan Socialism is a work-in-progress. Give it time.

 Japan's corruption index is nothing compared most other countries..

Now that is because corrupt business practices at all level are subtly legalized, and this is unlike most other

countries where such practices will result in legal consequences..

 Dont believe the polls

Ganbare Japan - why should your gut reaction on the popularity of consitutional change be more accurate than an opinion poll?

Venezuala is the logical conclusion of leftist politics.

Sorry about that...bit harsh.

I have trouble with auto-correct, too.

“Hash”.

"Venezuala" (sic) is rather the logical outcome of Spanish colonialism, dictators, misrule by oligarchs in cahoots with American imperialists and capitalists who have exploited the Venezuelan people for the last 100 years or so. Chavez and Maduro have been bitterly opposed by successive US administrations because they refused to shine ol' Uncle Sam's shoes. I'm no expert on the country, but this I know (Venezuela 101,innit?)

"Venezuala" (sic) is rather the logical outcome of Spanish colonialism, dictators, misrule by oligarchs in cahoots with American imperialists and capitalists who have exploited the Venezuelan people for the last 100 years or so.

The era of American capitalists and imperialists is at an end. The people of Venezuela have spoken in the freest election since the liberation of Cuba. Attempts to disrupt the distribution of food will FAIL. Economic embargoes will FAIL. Any attempt to invade with puppets or Marines will FAIL. The people will not rise up against the government because it is a well-known FACT that the people loved Chavez and love Maduro.

¡ Viven los Venezolanos !

You forgot one. Venezuela's economy FAIL.

Yeah, the people must love Chavez and Maduro.

https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/the-big-picture/2018/02/riches-rags-venezuela-economic-crisis-180211123942491.html

Japan with almost no existing political opposition, strong political corruption, an oligarchy based regime and a government (the LDP) which has almost non-stop hold full power on the country for more than 50 years, has no rights to give democracy lessons to the rest of the world.

Not sure why you got thumbed down so many times, some people can't stand the truth I guess.

Name a developed country that can give, based on the reasoning in the post above, other countries a 'lesson'.

The fingers on one hand may do... :)