The Japanese Communist Party has adopted a proposal to revise its pro-Marxist-Leninist constitution, which is more than four decades old.

The change, which also calls for temporarily recognizing the existence of the Self-Defense Forces, is aimed at giving the party greater flexibility in its policies to regain public confidence, which had eroded in June in the latest general election.

More ambitiously, the JCP hopes the move will lead to a place in a coalition government early in the 21st century.