October 21 and 22, 2011
The Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Democratic, and Komei parties on October 20 used their majority force at a plenary session of both chambers to forcibly select members of the Deliberative Council on the Constitution amidst opposition from the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party.
The JCP has opposed putting the member selection on the agenda as they are to discuss a draft for constitutional revision.
Prior to the House of Representatives plenary session, JCP Sasaki Kensho at the Steering Committee said, “The general public wants the best use of the Constitution for recovery and reconstruction from the 3.11 disaster, not constitutional revision.”
He pointed out that the establishment of a deliberative council in both Houses is required under the National Referendum Law enacted in 2007, but the law itself, outlining procedures for constitutional revision, came into effect as a result of the forced vote by the then LDP-Komei ruling coalition.
After this forcible passage, the LDP-Komei cabinet led by then Prime Minister Abe Shinzo set constitutional revision as the centerpiece of both parties’ manifestos. However, the Abe-led LDP suffered a crushing defeat in the Upper House election. Sasaki stated, “The voters’ disapproval of constitution revision became crystal clear.”
Based on the principles of Article 25 and Article 13 of the Constitution, the right to live and the right to pursue happiness, Sasaki demanded that the government eliminate the so-called “double-loan” problem in the disaster-affected region , restore medical and welfare institutions from the 3.11 disaster, and compensate people for nuclear contamination caused by the Fukushima accident.
The plenary session of the House of Representatives and Councilors respectively selected Kasai Akira and Inoue Satoshi as constitutional Deliberative Council members from the JCP. Members from the LDP and Komei are all advocates of constitutional revision.
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The Lower House Deliberative Council on the Constitution consists of 50 members: 32 DPJ, 12 LDP, 2 Komei, and 1 each from the JCP, the SDP, the Your Party, and the People’s New Party.
The Upper House council has 45 members: 19 DPJ, 16 LDP, 4 Komei, 2 from the Your Party, and 1 each from the JCP, the SDP, the People’s New Party, and the Sunrise Party of Japan.
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The Lower and Upper Houses on October 21 held their first Deliberative Council meeting separately and chose DPJ representative Ohata Akihiro and LDP representative Kosaka Kenji as chair of each council.
Kosaka, after being elected as chair of the Upper House’s constitution council, told reporters that his party, the LDP, aims to revise the Constitution saying, “I want a self-made constitution (of Japan) at any cost. I will do my utmost to set the stage for discussions (on constitutional amendment).”
A chairman of any council or committee in the Diet needs to handle the meetings in a fair manner. Akahata on October 22 pointed out that Kosaka’s statement shed light on the true intent of the Deliberative Council on the Constitution, which has the authority to consider the adoption of a draft amendment to the Constitution.
The JCP has opposed putting the member selection on the agenda as they are to discuss a draft for constitutional revision.
Prior to the House of Representatives plenary session, JCP Sasaki Kensho at the Steering Committee said, “The general public wants the best use of the Constitution for recovery and reconstruction from the 3.11 disaster, not constitutional revision.”
He pointed out that the establishment of a deliberative council in both Houses is required under the National Referendum Law enacted in 2007, but the law itself, outlining procedures for constitutional revision, came into effect as a result of the forced vote by the then LDP-Komei ruling coalition.
After this forcible passage, the LDP-Komei cabinet led by then Prime Minister Abe Shinzo set constitutional revision as the centerpiece of both parties’ manifestos. However, the Abe-led LDP suffered a crushing defeat in the Upper House election. Sasaki stated, “The voters’ disapproval of constitution revision became crystal clear.”
Based on the principles of Article 25 and Article 13 of the Constitution, the right to live and the right to pursue happiness, Sasaki demanded that the government eliminate the so-called “double-loan” problem in the disaster-affected region , restore medical and welfare institutions from the 3.11 disaster, and compensate people for nuclear contamination caused by the Fukushima accident.
The plenary session of the House of Representatives and Councilors respectively selected Kasai Akira and Inoue Satoshi as constitutional Deliberative Council members from the JCP. Members from the LDP and Komei are all advocates of constitutional revision.
* * *
The Lower House Deliberative Council on the Constitution consists of 50 members: 32 DPJ, 12 LDP, 2 Komei, and 1 each from the JCP, the SDP, the Your Party, and the People’s New Party.
The Upper House council has 45 members: 19 DPJ, 16 LDP, 4 Komei, 2 from the Your Party, and 1 each from the JCP, the SDP, the People’s New Party, and the Sunrise Party of Japan.
* * *
The Lower and Upper Houses on October 21 held their first Deliberative Council meeting separately and chose DPJ representative Ohata Akihiro and LDP representative Kosaka Kenji as chair of each council.
Kosaka, after being elected as chair of the Upper House’s constitution council, told reporters that his party, the LDP, aims to revise the Constitution saying, “I want a self-made constitution (of Japan) at any cost. I will do my utmost to set the stage for discussions (on constitutional amendment).”
A chairman of any council or committee in the Diet needs to handle the meetings in a fair manner. Akahata on October 22 pointed out that Kosaka’s statement shed light on the true intent of the Deliberative Council on the Constitution, which has the authority to consider the adoption of a draft amendment to the Constitution.
