A third-party panel of experts has begun discussions over reform of the Lower House electoral system, after talks among the ruling and opposition parties failed to make progress on the issue as their partisan interests collided with each other.
Doubts linger, though, over whether the parties will commit to carrying out the panel's recommendations since it was not given legally binding power over its proposals. Lawmakers involved in the reform should realize that the panel was created because they were unable to make a decision on their own and honor its recommendations when they're put forward.
The 15-member panel, chaired by former University of Tokyo President Takeshi Sasaki, was created as an advisory commission for Lower House Speaker Bunmei Ibuki. They agreed in its first meeting in September that they will first discuss the gap in the value of votes between constituencies in Lower House elections. Its agenda will also include the evaluation of the current electoral system combining single-seat constituencies and proportional representation, cuts to the number of Lower House seats, and fundamental reform of the chamber's electoral system.