Coalition extends Diet session

In the Houses of Representatives and Councilors on June 17, the ruling coalition parties used their force of majority to extend the current Diet session until July 28 with the aim of passing a bill to dispatch the SDF to assist in Iraq's reconstruction.

The Japanese Communist, Democratic, Liberal, and Social Democratic parties opposed the 40-day extension.

JCP Dietmember Kodama Kenji at the June 16 Lower House Steering Committee meeting criticized the ruling parties for trying to extend the Diet session in order to pass the unconstitutional bill. He stated, "It outrageously goes against the parliamentary system." (end)