The ruling bloc is aiming to get through the Lower House a contentious bill that would punish the planning of crimes, lawmakers said Tuesday, despite lingering criticism that the legislation could threaten civil rights.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, Komeito, are eager to push the bill through the House of Representatives next week so it can be sent to the Upper House and enacted into law during the ongoing Diet session set to end June 18.
Abe said during a Diet session earlier in the day that enactment of the law is necessary to protect the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics from terrorism as "many and unspecified people" will enter Japan for the sports event.