constitution

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

LDP-Komei to submit a referendum bill for constitutional revision

The Liberal Democratic Party and the Komei Party on September 21 agreed to submit in the special Diet session a referendum bill to establish procedures for constitutional revision.

Komei's Diet Policy Committee Chair Higashi Junji told reporters that the two parties seek to introduce the bill at an appropriate time after discussion with the Democratic Party of Japan.

On the same day at an executives' meeting of the Lower House Steering Committee, representatives from both the ruling and opposition parties discussed establishing a special committee that the ruling parties had proposed in order to discuss the referendum bill.

The ruling parties' representatives once again proposed establishing a special committee by arguing, "It should be an upgraded version of the Constitutional Research Council."

Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji disagreed with the proposal for the special committee on the grounds that it will help pave the way for constitutional revision. A DPJ representative also insisted on taking time to discuss its establishment.

The ruling parties are expected to use their majority to force the setting up of a special committee in the Lower House plenary session on September 22. -- Akahata, September 22, 2005