The Diet's two chambers may come to different conclusions over various bills in upcoming sessions, but this can lead to more transparent debate, the new House of Councilors president hopes.
"The upper and lower chambers of the Diet may conflict over various bills, but we shouldn't be afraid of this," said Satsuki Eda, an Upper House lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Japan who was elected the chamber's new president Tuesday. "The two chambers should oppose each other in a dignified manner and make efforts to reach consensus after having transparent discussions."
Following the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc's devastating defeat in the July 29 Upper House election, the DPJ became the largest party in the chamber. This is the first time the LDP has ceded the presidency to an opposition force since the party was established in 1955.