Japan Press Weekly

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2012 August 22 - 28 [POLITICS]

DPJ forcibly starts discussion on Diet seats reduction bill

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan on August 22 forcibly started deliberation on a bill in the Diet to reduce the number of Lower House seats in defiance of the opposition parties’ objections. This move has provoked criticism from the general public.

The bill aims to cut 5 seats out of 300 single-member constituencies and 40 out of 180 proportional representation seats by the next general election.

To reform the election system, an agreement among all political parties including opposition parties is required because the system provides the foundation of democracy. A committee on the reform of the Lower House election system, which consisted of all parties in the Diet, has held meetings 16 times. During discussions at the meetings, a variety of problems involved in the system of single-seat constituencies and proportional representation were pointed out by all parties other than the DPJ. These parties recognized in common that the system needs a drastic revision.

In mid-June, however, the DPJ suddenly closed the committee meetings and submitted the bill to the Diet.

The reason why the ruling party repeatedly resorted to such reckless actions is that they are using the reduction of the Lower House seats as an excuse to get the public to swallow a consumption tax hike.

However, the bill to slash the number of proportional representation seats will increase the percentage of single-seat constituencies in the House, leading to a further neglect of the will of a majority of voters.

The election system should accurately reflect public opinion. The DPJ bill goes head-on against this basic principle.