Kokuta criticizes DPJ strong-arm Diet steering tactics

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Kokuta criticizes DPJ strong-arm Diet steering tactics

Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji on May 25 criticized the ruling Democratic Party of Japan for autocratically steering Diet proceedings in the attempt to railroad important bills through the current Diet session without time allotted for deliberations.

Asked by reporters for a comment on the DPJ's handling of the Diet in regard to the bill to revise the Broadcast Act, Kokuta stated, "This is the first time in 60 years that the Broadcast Act is to be revised. We need careful discussions on that because it is a fundamental question of whether we maintain freedom of the airwaves or allow state authorities to interfere in broadcasting services. The method the ruling bloc is employing with its force of majority is trampling on the very essence of democracy in Diet steering."

Kokuta pointed out that the ruling parties are also proclaiming that they will promptly enact the bill to revise the Worker Dispatch Law as well as a set of postal-related bills in the ongoing Diet session without having serious discussions on them. "This is absolutely impermissible," he added.

- Akahata, May 26, 2010