The Lower House Special Committee on Political Ethics and the Election Law on Tuesday began deliberating a bill aimed at eliminating 50 Lower House seats elected by proportional representation.
The bill, considered a key policy agreement between the Liberal Democratic Party and its partner, the Liberal Party, had been left on the back-burner for a month due to stiff opposition from New Komeito, which the LDP is wooing to join the ruling bloc.
The Liberal Party is pressuring the LDP to help get the bill passed by the end of the current Diet session, but New Komeito is opposed.
To break the deadlock, the Lower House Steering Committee -- with support from the LDP, the Liberal Party and the Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition party -- voted earlier in the day to begin deliberations.
But it appears doubtful that substantial debate on the bill will be possible during the current Diet session -- the LDP apparently agreed to start committee deliberations only to keep its agreement with the Liberal Party.
With more than half of its Lower House members elected through proportional representation, New Komeito vehemently opposes the bill, which could deliver a blow to smaller parties that have a greater chance of securing seats through proportional representation rather than through single-seat constituencies.
New Komeito, the No. 2 opposition force, has said it will start talks with the ruling parties to enter the coalition but insists the seat-reduction matter should be discussed by an interparty panel because it affects all parties.