Japan PM vows to speed up reconstruction as he kicks off election campaign in Fukushima

TOKYO — Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to speed up disaster reconstruction Thursday as he kicked off the campaign for parliamentary elections during a visit to Fukushima.

Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, the New Komeito, are expected to gain a majority of the 242 seats in the less powerful upper house in the July 21 election. That would give them control of both houses of parliament, making it easier to pass legislation.

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