DPJ and LDP work to begin discussions at Upper House deliberative council on Constitution

Japan Press Weekly

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DPJ and LDP work to begin discussions at Upper House deliberative council on Constitution

Upper House Diet policy commission chairs of the ruling Democratic and former ruling Liberal Democratic parties agreed on October 19 to work to set provisions for a deliberative council on the Constitution in the House by the end of the current Diet session.

This agreement aims to start a full-fledged discussion in both chambers' research councils, which have the authority to examine constitutional drafts.

The council was installed in the Upper and Lower Houses based on the National Referendum Law which the former ruling coalition of the LDP and Komei Party forcibly enacted in May 2007. However, they were left untouched for more than two years after the LDP suffered a major setback in the House of Councilors election in July of that year.

In the House of Representatives Deliberative Council, the former ruling block used the force of majority to establish the provisions in June 2009.

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JCP opposes enactment of rules on constitutional revision

Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji on October 20 said that the JCP opposes any attempt to accept rules by the deliberative councils on the Constitution because it paves the way for constitutional revision.

Kokuta was asked by reporters to comment on the fact that Diet policy commission chairs of the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party on the previous day agreed to enact the rules of the deliberative councils on the Constitution in the House of Councilors by the end of this Diet session.

Kokuta went on to say, "Their real aim with the enactment of the rules is to pave the way for a revision of Article 9 of the Constitution."

- Akahata, October 20&21, 2010