The steering committees of both Diet chambers have laid down a new rule for Diet approval of the appointment of officials for four important organizations — the governor and two deputy governors of the Bank of Japan, the three top-ranking officials of the Board of Audit and the National Personnel Authority, and the chairman of the Fair Trade Commission.
Under the new rule, government-recommended candidates will publicly express their views before both steering committees prior to being questioned in private by lawmakers. A week to 10 days after the government submits its recommendation to the Diet, voting will take place in the plenary sessions of both houses.
Appointment of the officials needs the approval of both houses. If either house rejects a candidate, the government must find a new candidate and start the process anew. Since the Democratic Party of Japan, together with other opposition parties, controls the Upper House, it has the power to overturn government recommendations. The focus is now on who will succeed Bank of Japan Gov. Mr. Toshihiko Fukui and the two BOJ deputy governors, all of whom retire March 19.