After months of hardball between the ruling and opposition blocs, Diet deliberations on the crucial bond-issuance bill kicked off Thursday, paving the way for its passage.
The move came a day after the Liberal Democratic Party caved in, apparently judging it would anger the public if it continued to oppose acting on the bill, which is needed to fund about 40 percent of this year's budget.
The bill is currently the priority of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's administration, but with its passage now almost assured, he has been pushed one step closer to dissolving the Lower House for a snap election.