TOKUSHIMA — The Tokushima Municipal Assembly's passage of an ordinance Monday to hold a plebiscite on the controversial Yoshino River dam project was realized after three groups in the assembly in favor of the vote reached a compromise with New Komeito.
Citizens' Network and the other two groups reversed their earlier positions at the last minute and agreed to a proposal made by New Komeito. The three groups had been criticizing the party's proposal, saying it lacks teeth because it does not specify any timetable for holding the plebiscite.
"I am relieved that an ordinance (for the plebiscite) to reflect the will of the citizens is at last in sight," Hisatake Kujime, head of Citizens' Network, told a news conference after Monday's assembly session.