Shinzo Abe to Become Japan's Longest Serving PM

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a ruling party leadership vote on Thursday and set to three more years as longest-serving prime minister. His present goal is to cement his legacy, including by revising the pacifist constitution.
Polls had shown the 63-year-old Abe would romp to victory against a former defense minister, Shigeru Ishiba. A total of 810 votes were up for grabs and Abe secured 553 votes against 254, roughly 68 percent support. It would determine how easy it might be for him to introduce reforms.
Abe’s victory effectively extends his term in office by another three years. If he is still in office in November 2019 he will overtake Taro Katsura, who was leader for 2,886 days  spread over three terms  in the early 1900s.
Among 810 votes half of them coming from the Liberal Democratic Party members of parliament, with the rest allocated according to the votes of rank-and-file party members.
Although voters view the economy and social security as their top priorities, Abe aims to use the new mandate to pursue his dream: the rewriting of Japan’s post-World War II pacifist constitution.
“I want to tackle constitutional reform together with all of you,” Abe told his Liberal Democratic Party after the vote.
“I’m determined to build a new country together with you,” Abe said on the eve of the election on Wednesday. “I promise to take the lead in handing over a proud and hopeful Japan to younger generations.”
Abe is now pledging to reform social security by raising the retirement age to above 65, and making it easier for people to remain in the workforce. He must also keep economic growth on track with a dwindling policy tool-kit.
However, he has the immediate challenge of a likely summit with U.S. President Donald Trump next week, when he will face pressure to cut Japan’s $69 billion surplus with its key ally, nearly two-thirds from auto exports.
>Juthy Saha