All proceedings in the current ordinary Diet session are going smoothly. The lull is in stark contrast to a period of turmoil from late January to early February triggered by the opposition boycott of the Diet over the ruling bloc's railroading of a bill for cutting the number of Lower House seats by 20. During the period, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Liberal Party and New Komeito defied protests and enacted bills in the absence of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, the Japan Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party.
The fiscal 2000 government budget passed the Lower House in late February and is certain to be enacted by the Diet before fiscal 1999 ends March 31. A political lull may seem to prevail over the nation, but the appearance is deceptive. Japan faces a host of problems at home and abroad, and the present condition is unlikely to continue indefinitely.
First, a major pending problem is the timing of a Lower House dissolution for a snap election. A general election must be held before Oct. 19, when the sitting Lower House members' term expires. As soon as the budget is enacted sometime this month, all political parties and lawmakers will start making preparations for the election. Widespread speculation on the timing of the election has focused on April, May-June, sometime after the Group of Eight summit in Okinawa in late July, and October, when the terms of Lower House members expire.