Japan's current extraordinary Diet session will be extended for 25 days to Dec. 25 under the present plan, a senior lawmaker of the New Komeito party indicated Wednesday.
The extension will enable the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito party to hold a second vote in the lower house to pass an antiterrorism refueling bill and a bill to bolster Japan's banking sector
According to Japanese Constitution, the more powerful House of Representatives can hold a revote to pass a bill if the upper house, which is controlled by opposition parties, rejects it or holds no vote within 60 days of receiving the bill.
On the financial bill, it will become capable for the ruling coalition to hold a second vote after Jan. 5 if the opposition refuses to hold a vote in the upper house.
But the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan may agree to vote on it within this year due to the harsh economic conditions and enable the ruling coalition to pass it by using its two-thirds majority in the lower house during the extended session if the opposition bloc votes down the bill.
The two bills are currently under deliberation in the House of Councilors.
The ruling parties will make a final decision on how long to extend the current Diet session after assessing the DPJ's responses to the two bills, Kyodo News Agency quoted ruling party executive members as saying.
Japanese government and ruling coalition Tuesday confirmed that they will submit a second supplementary budget during a regular Diet session in January rather than in the ongoing extra Diet session. It remains uncertain how the DPJ will move as it was disappointed by Prime Minister Taro Aso's announcement.
The second extra budget would finance an economic stimulus package worth 26.9 trillion yen, unveiled by Aso on Oct. 30, to cushion the negative impact of the global financial crisis on people's livelihoods.
(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2008)
