A bill aimed at encouraging lenders to freeze debt repayments for small and midsize companies was set to clear the Lower House late Thursday night after the ruling bloc rammed it through a Diet committee in the first such power play since the Hatoyama administration assumed office two months ago.
The government-sponsored bill was passed by the Lower House Financial Affairs Committee despite a boycott by the Liberal Democratic Party, the main opposition force, and its former ruling coalition partner, New Komeito.
In the evening, the legislation was moved to the plenary session of the Lower House, where the DPJ, together with its two coalition partners, has an overwhelming majority. But passage was not expected to come till late into the night, after which it will be sent to the Upper House.