JCP Shii proposes holding weekly one-on-one debate

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on November 27 proposed that the one-on-one debates between the prime minister and opposition leaders be held more frequently on a regular basis, at least once a week.

During the past two years, one-on-one debates took place only 12 times, including twice in the current extraordinary Diet session starting at the end of October. Each of the smaller opposition leaders has only several minutes because the debates are allotted only 40 minutes. Opposition parties are calling for the debate system to be reviewed.

Shii proposed allocating at least 60 minutes to each one-on-one debate and distribute time equally to all opposition party leaders (currently it is distributed according to the number of Diet seats). (end)