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The DPJ Political Reform Promotion Headquarters (Chaired by Acting Secretary General Shinji Tarutoko) held a board meeting in the Diet building on July 24. The Chair reported that: in regards to the electoral system of the House of Representatives, the DPJ had submitted legislation to partially amend the Public Offices Election Law and the Act for Establishment of the Council on the House of Representatives Electoral Districts, including the correction of “disparity in the value of one vote” and reduction in the number of the Diet members, and has redoubled efforts for starting discussions in the earliest manner; and there are reports of movements within the Liberal Democratic Party to make a counterproposal for the legislation. The board meeting pledged continuous efforts to start the discussions promptly for passing the legislation in the current Diet sessions.
On the subject of the House of Councillors, the headquarters’ Deputy Chair Yasuo Ichikawa said he would present his draft proposal to correct the disparity in the value of one vote in the deliberative council on the electoral system of the House of Councillors. The draft proposal includes the implementation of a “4 more, 4 less (seats)” plan for the next general election, and continuous discussion on the fundamental reform of the electoral system for the future elections. This proposal will go through interparty discussions to build a consensus, and will then be discussed at a deliberative meeting comprised of the leaders of parliamentary groups. The board meeting approved the draft proposal and confirmed that the relevant legislation would be jointly discussed by the general assembly of the Political Reform Promotion Headquarters and the meeting of the Policy Research Committee’s Subcommittee on Internal Affairs and Communications before its submission.
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