ニュース 2009/12/07 Yamaoka calls for active debate on legislation relating to livelihoods and humanitarian issues On December 1, the DPJ held a meeting of the DPJ Caucus in the House of Representatives. On what was in fact the last day of legislative debate in the House of Representatives, DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chair Kenji Yamaoka thanked the members of the caucus for their concerted efforts, and went on to comment on the incomprehensible boycotting of debate by the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, saying, “When the DPJ was in opposition, even when there was a crisis, we actively promoted legislation relating to livelihoods and humanitarian issues. It is truly a sad and sorry sight to see [the LDP] focusing on party interests and tactics for the sake of their self-preservation, to the extent that even such legislation is sacrificed.” Following this, Vice Secretary General Yutaka Banno announced that the basic policy regarding the “Plan for Parliamentary Leagues” approved by a general meeting of DPJ Diet members and the party executive the previous day. The plan includes the following six points: (1) parliamentary leagues would in principle be established and conduct their activities with a membership consisting only of DPJ Diet members, (2) existing parliamentary leagues which are inactive will be disbanded or Diet members will resign their membership, (3) with regard to exceptional cases of parliamentary leagues which should be continued or newly established with a bipartisan membership, these will be dealt with after engaging in sufficient consultation with the Office of the Secretary General, (4) DPJ Diet members should be fully aware of their status as members of the ruling party and engage in parliamentary league activities in such a way as to support the government, (5) government ministers, vice ministers, parliamentary secretaries and the DPJ secretary general will not be permitted to join parliamentary leagues or register to participate in league activities, (6) participation in parliamentary league activities will be on a registration-only basis, and the new system will be implemented from the next ordinary Diet session.