Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's assassination in July has prompted the nation's political pundits to reflect on his legacy, with some arguing that he jeopardized Japan's democracy and abused his power for personal gain during his eight years as leader.
Incumbent Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he had decided to hold a state funeral for Abe in order to "defend democracy," but critics claim that the former leader, who they say was not welcoming of views inconsistent with his own, did much to hurt Japan's democratic policymaking process.
While ruling lawmakers close to Abe praise him for delivering Liberal Democratic Party victories in six national elections over roughly seven years from 2012, the party's electoral success can also be largely attributed to the opposition bloc's inability to gain political traction.