The Liberal Democratic Party will call for a new Constitution in its platform for the upcoming House of Councilors election, according to a draft version.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>The platform currently contains around 220 measures grouped under eight themes. They include a review of national security policies, educational reform and consolidation of the 47 prefectures into larger units, according to the draft.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>The draft is being readied by LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa and other senior lawmakers for official endorsement by the end of this month, party sources said.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>While Prime Minister Shinzo Abe aims to rewrite the postwar Constitution, the LDP has already drafted a proposed new Constitution that allows the legal possession of what it calls 'military forces for self-defense.'</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>A law to set referendum procedures for amending the Constitution was passed last week, establishing a legal framework for changing the national charter for the first time since it went into force 60 years ago.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>On educational reform, another of Abe's major goals, the draft says the party will work to 'open the way for a new era of education by deepening discussions at the –

Education Rebuilding Council."

The draft contains measures on dwindling medical services in provincial areas as a way to win votes in regional single-seat districts, while vowing enhanced efforts to fight global warming and other environmental issues to draw the attention of unaffiliated urban voters.

Following the recent spate of violent crimes committed by minors and last week's shooting spree by a former gangster in Aichi Prefecture, the draft calls for a basic law aimed at the sound upbringing of juveniles as well as new firearms control measures.

On the diplomatic and national security fronts, it pledges efforts to "rebuild the legal foundation in terms of national security" by advancing discussions on the exercise of the right to "collective self-defense."

The draft says the party will aim at "legislating a general law" that readies the Self-Defense Forces for deployment overseas at any time for international activities. The SDF's ongoing Iraq and Indian Ocean missions required special, temporary legislation.

On North Korea, the platform promises efforts to "resolve the abduction issue as a matter of national pride," and "reinforce measures to deal with suspected abduction cases and other harmful activities against Japan."