The Diet is stuck in turmoil, with all opposition parties boycotting both plenary and committee sessions. In both Houses, all legislative procedures -- the delivery of key policy speeches, questions and answers, and even a vote -- have been conducted by and for the benefit of only the ruling-party members. The immediate reason for this anomaly is a mundane bill that will cut the number of Lower House seats by 20 in the proportional-representation sector.
The opposition, outraged at the high-handed way the ruling parties railroaded the bill through both Houses, continues to sit out all plenary and committee sessions. Their strategy, apparently, is to drive the ruling coalition into a corner and precipitate an early Lower House election. But the three ruling parties -- the Liberal Democratic Party, the Liberal Party and Komeito -- appear to be in no mood for compromise just now. They are bracing for "solo debate and voting."
The top item on the legislative agenda is the government budget for fiscal 2000, not the seat-reduction bill. The ruling parties are rightly committed to getting the budget through the Diet before the new fiscal year begins in April. Why, then, all the fuss about the seat cutback?