The Democratic Party of Japan agreed Tuesday with two opposition parties on amendments to the deficit-covering bonds bill, ensuring its passage Thursday — a key condition Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has set for dissolving the Lower House for an election.
The DPJ, Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito also agreed to discuss selecting members for a national council to reform the social security system. Creation of the council is another condition Noda has set before he dissolves the Lower House.
With passage of the debt bill now on track for Thursday, speculation was growing that Noda could dissolve the lower chamber as early as Nov. 22 and call the election for Dec. 16.