The secretaries general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan agreed Thursday morning to enact during the current Diet session a bill to revise the National Referendum Law, making it easier to hold a national referendum on amendments to the Constitution.
Certain changes were made to the bill, and the revision bill was passed by a majority vote of the ruling parties, the CDPJ and others at the Commission on the Constitution of the House of Representative later in the day. The LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito, are believed to hope to have the bill passed at a plenary session of the lower house as early as Tuesday and send it to the House of Councillors.
During a meeting at the Diet Building, LDP Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai told CDPJ Secretary General Tetsuro Fukuyama that the LDP would agree to insert a supplementary provision in the bill that would require looking into changing the law especially with regards to TV, radio and other spot commercials during the referendum campaign period. The CDPJ had argued this revision was necessary.
LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairperson Hiroshi Moriyama, who also was at the meeting, told reporters that they were "able to agree to pass the bill during the current Diet session."
After the meeting, a question-and-answer session on the bill was held at the Commission on the Constitution of the lower house.
The revisions clarified in a supplementary provision that restrictions on TV, radio and other advertising and donations from foreigners during the referendum campaign period will be studied, and necessary measures will be taken within three years after the law comes into effect. The CDPJ had indicated it would vote on the bill on the condition it was revised.
The LDP, Komeito, Nippon Ishin no Kai and other parties proposed the bill to revise the law in June 2018. However, the CDPJ had been against it, arguing that restrictions on TV and radio advertising during the referendum campaign period were insufficient. This resulted in the bill being on the agenda at eight consecutive Diet sessions.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
