As Japan marks 80 years of Constitution, debate continues on emergency clause
Some experts argue such a clause is needed for swift initial responses to disasters, while others worry it could lead to concentrated authority.
On this Tuesday, Japan commemorated the 80th anniversary of its Constitution. However, the discussion persists regarding the potential inclusion of an emergency clause within the supreme law. This clause would temporarily expand governmental authority during significant disasters. Proponents argue that such a measure is essential for ensuring prompt initial responses to disasters, such as a powerful earthquake directly impacting the Tokyo metropolitan region or the Nankai Trough in the Pacific, located off central and western Japan.
Conversely, critics express concerns that the clause could lead to an unwarranted concentration of power. Yoshiaki Kawata, a professor at Kansai University specializing in major natural disasters, asserts that "existing laws alone may not be sufficient in certain cases" because large-scale disasters necessitate coordinated efforts from multiple agencies and ministries.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
