In an unprecedented development in Japanese political history, the opposition forces are boycotting all Diet proceedings to protest the ruling coalition's handling of the controversial legislation for reducing the number of Lower House seats. The Democratic Party of Japan, the Japan Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party launched the boycott in an ordinary Diet session that began Jan. . Only the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its partners -- the Liberal Party and New Komeito -- are taking part in both Houses' proceedings.
The trouble started when the ruling bloc moved to railroad the bill for cutting the number of Lower House proportional-representation seats by 20, in defiance of opposition protests. The bill was enacted when it was passed by the Upper House Wednesday, without committee debate. This was the first time the Upper House had passed a bill without such debate.
In other unprecedented action, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi delivered a policy speech to the Diet without the presence of opposition parties. Ordinarily, at the outset of a Diet session, the prime minister gives a policy speech to plenary sessions of both houses and opposition leaders question him.