The leaders of six opposition parties Friday agreed to form a united front in trying to prevent the ruling camp bulldozing two contentious security bills into law.
The government and the ruling bloc, which comprises the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, are aiming to have the bills passed by the Upper House as early as Sept. 14, without resorting to a second Lower House vote under a so-called 60-day rule on Diet votes.
The six opposition parties involved include the Democratic Party of Japan, Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party), and the Japanese Communist Party. Their leaders plan to hold talks again next week to discuss what they can do, including submitting a motion of no confidence against the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "There is no doubt that the more opposition parties get together, the stronger the power," DPJ President Katsuya Okada told reporters followingtalks in the Diet building.