With only two weeks to go until this year's extraordinary Diet session comes to a close, the ruling bloc and opposition parties agreed to cancel Thursday's discussion on constitutional change, effectively dashing any remaining hopes of passing a referendum bill this year related to a possible amendment of the top law.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party had been hopeful that the bill would be passed this year and suggested on Wednesday that the Lower House special Diet committee on constitutional affairs vote on the revision to the referendum law on Thursday, so that it will be ready to clear the lower chamber at its plenary session.
However, opposition parties rejected the idea, saying the issue had not been sufficiently debated and that it was too soon to pass the bill, eventually leading to the Thursday session being axed.