Abe's friends lend him wrong ideas

Take the case of Katsuto Momii, the new chairman of public broadcaster NHK, which Abe professes no liking for. Since Momii, Abe's preferred candidate, became chairman of NHK in January, the broadcaster's traditional independence has arguably suffered.

Abe is known to consider NHK too left-wing in its views. In 2001, when he was Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, he had tried to get the broadcaster to cancel a documentary on Japan's involvement in the comfort women issue.

Significantly, Momii's first public remarks on assuming office were to cast doubt on Japan's guilt in the comfort women issue. Accused by opposition lawmakers of being unsuitable for the job of NHK chairman, Momii, a former businessman, continues to be a source of embarrassment for both the broadcaster and Abe.

But Abe's greatest liability has turned out to be former diplomat Ichiro Komatsu. An international law expert, Komatsu shares Abe's conviction that Japan should be allowed to take part in collective self-defense with other countries, something that is banned under the longstanding interpretation of Japan's Constitution.

To Abe's disgust, all previous directors of the Cabinet Legislative Bureau, which is responsible for vetting state-sponsored legislation, have pooh-poohed the idea of revamping the constitutional interpretation, citing legal arguments. Headhunted by Abe to head the bureau, Komatsu has the job of convincing Parliament that the current interpretation is no longer valid.

Abe thought he had the matter all sewn up. But Komatsu inexplicably picked verbal fights with elected lawmakers, both inside and outside Parliament. But Komatsu has refused to quit his post and Abe does not appear to be actively looking for a replacement either.

Abe is expected to reshuffle his Cabinet after the current parliamentary session adjourns in mid-June. But unlike his previous stint as premier, his biggest headaches this time lie outside the Cabinet. He could do with more people of the calibre of Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga, an unassuming politician who represents the voice of reason and who has proven capable at times of restraining the loose cannon that is Abe.

The Straits Times/Asia News Network