The government and ruling coalition have decided to scrap a controversial bill to extend the retirement age of high-ranking prosecutors after widespread criticism that it gives the Cabinet undue influence over the judiciary, administration sources said Wednesday.
The government will eliminate a special provision allowing the Cabinet to keep certain high-ranking prosecutors longer than others and submit a fresh bill to the Diet in its next session or later, according to the sources.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apparently gave up on seeking passage of the current bill during the regular Diet session through Wednesday, and the government and the ruling parties were considering whether to have it carried over to the next parliamentary session or scrap it in its current form.