Japan's election strengthens hand of ruling coalition

(Vatican Radio) An election in Japan at the weekend has given additional power to the country’s ruling coalition. It comes at a time when the nation is tackling problems such as the population's low birth rate.

Alastair Wanklyn reports from Tokyo on what changes may be in store:

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Claiming victory, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said support for his party and the ruling bloc is a vote of approval on economic policies to bring Japan out of stagnation.

He promised to spend more on farmers and on expanding Japan's railway network.

He has earlier spoken of making it easier for working families to have children, by expanding the number of places at nurseries.

Critics say Abe has largely ignored other social problems, including high levels of hidden poverty and a shift away from permanent jobs.

There is also massive depopulation of rural areas. Abe has ruled out immigration, despite the fact that around 8 million homes in Japan are empty.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abe now holds a sufficient majority in the legislature to change the nation's constitution.

That text was written just after Japan's defeat in World War II, and Abe has said it is out of date.

In particular, he wants to overturn a pacifist clause that bans Japan from going to war.

On Monday, China spoke out urging Japan to stick to its peaceful path.

Changes to the constitution would have to be approved in a national referendum, but Abe has said he wants the revisions made within the next year or so.