Opposition parties say 'No' to starting Diet debates on contingency bills

The four opposition parties have agreed to oppose starting discussions on the three contingency bills in the current Diet session.

Diet policy chairpersons of the Japanese Communist, Democratic, Social Democratic, and Liberal parties met on April 2 and unanimously criticized the government parties for their attempt to start Diet debates on the wartime bills as early as possible.

The opposition parties pointed out that bulldozing such bills through the Diet during the war on Iraq and the simultaneous local elections shows how the government parties are acting against public opinion.

Kanzaki Takenori, Komei Party representative, hinted to the press on the same day that the government parties will eventually put the contingency bills to a vote even without the presence of opposition parties. (end)