The tripartite ruling coalition is moving to submit to the Diet a bill for a new Upper House proportional-representation voting system that would allow voters to choose either individual candidates or political parties when casting ballots. The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party will sponsor the legislation for revising the Public Offices Election Law. Under present plans, the reform will take effect in the election to be held next summer.
All opposition parties are opposed to the legislation, which promises to become one of the most important issues in the current extraordinary Diet session. There are a few serious problems with the bill.
First, it is intended to serve the interests of the ruling parties. The present voting system -- in which voters cast ballots for political parties, and candidates are allocated seats on the basis of their position on party lists -- limits the parties' vote-gathering power.