The ruling coalition and New Komeito, which intends to join it, continued last-minute negotiations Thursday to resolve their differences over a bill to cut 50 proportional representation seats in the Lower House.

During an evening meeting between secretaries general of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Liberal Party, Liberal Party Secretary General Hirohisa Fujii reportedly offered a compromise, saying that debate on the bill should at least be carried over to the next Diet session, according to political sources.

The Liberal Party proposal was reportedly conveyed to New Komeito's Diet affairs chief Shozo Kusakawa, but it appears to have been rejected by New Komeito.