July 2, 2026
The opposition parties are currently united in demanding an end to the forced deliberations on the bill to reduce the number of proportional representation seats in the House of Representatives. The ruling coalition partner “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party is portraying the situation as an “opposition boycott of deliberations”, creating the impression that the opposition bloc is unilaterally bringing the Diet to a standstill.
However, what is truly being called into question right now is the stance of the ruling parties.
The issue of whether to reduce the number of Diet seats touches on the electoral system, the very foundation of parliamentary democracy. Therefore, the Council on Electoral System Reform consisting of representatives from all political parties has held extensive discussions on the matter. Despite these discussions, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party submitted the bill in question. Furthermore, in the absence of the opposition parties, the ruling coalition has forced the start of Diet deliberations and is even attempting to put the bill to a vote without them.
This is precisely what is causing the ongoing dysfunction in the Diet and undermining the very nature of the Diet as a venue for thorough deliberations.
Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers have been holding street speech rallies to protest against this manner of conducting Diet proceedings.
On July 1, near Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo, JCP Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko stated that reducing the number of Diet seats amounts to “discarding the will of the people” and appealed to the crowd, “Please raise your voices to stop the ruling parties’ dictatorship.”
Tatsumi Kotaro (House of Representatives) stated that the proportional representation system better reflects voters’ will, and criticized the ruling LDP and “Ishin” for disregarding the discussions held repeatedly in the Electoral System Reform Council and for attempting to pass the bill in the absence of the opposition parties. He explained that the opposition parties are resisting this aggressive move, and appealed for the public’s understanding.
Nihi Sohei (House of Councillors) emphasized, “In the Upper House, the ruling parties do not hold a majority. We opposition parties are united in our determination to prevent this bill from being approved.”
Past related article:
> LDP-‘Ishin’ coalition forcibly begins Diet deliberations on bill to reduce number of Lower House seats [June 30, 2026]
However, what is truly being called into question right now is the stance of the ruling parties.
The issue of whether to reduce the number of Diet seats touches on the electoral system, the very foundation of parliamentary democracy. Therefore, the Council on Electoral System Reform consisting of representatives from all political parties has held extensive discussions on the matter. Despite these discussions, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party submitted the bill in question. Furthermore, in the absence of the opposition parties, the ruling coalition has forced the start of Diet deliberations and is even attempting to put the bill to a vote without them.
This is precisely what is causing the ongoing dysfunction in the Diet and undermining the very nature of the Diet as a venue for thorough deliberations.
Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers have been holding street speech rallies to protest against this manner of conducting Diet proceedings.
On July 1, near Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo, JCP Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko stated that reducing the number of Diet seats amounts to “discarding the will of the people” and appealed to the crowd, “Please raise your voices to stop the ruling parties’ dictatorship.”
Tatsumi Kotaro (House of Representatives) stated that the proportional representation system better reflects voters’ will, and criticized the ruling LDP and “Ishin” for disregarding the discussions held repeatedly in the Electoral System Reform Council and for attempting to pass the bill in the absence of the opposition parties. He explained that the opposition parties are resisting this aggressive move, and appealed for the public’s understanding.
Nihi Sohei (House of Councillors) emphasized, “In the Upper House, the ruling parties do not hold a majority. We opposition parties are united in our determination to prevent this bill from being approved.”
Past related article:
> LDP-‘Ishin’ coalition forcibly begins Diet deliberations on bill to reduce number of Lower House seats [June 30, 2026]
