After romping back to power following three years in the opposition, the Liberal Democratic Party chief called for unity and a break with tradition Wednesday in a bid to consolidate power ahead of the Upper House election in July.
At a meeting of all LDP Diet members — the party's first since its landslide victory on Dec. 16 — LDP chief Shinzo Abe told his newly emboldened party not to bask in tradition or revert to its old political ways, because the public hasn't fully endorsed its return yet.
"The real showdown is the Upper House election," said Abe, who was elected prime minister in an extra Diet session the same day. "The LDP can really end the confusion caused by the Democratic Party of Japan, but only after the party wins that election."