ID :
30806
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 16:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/30806
The shortlink copeid
DPJ to boycott key bill debates after Aso fails to assure on budget+
TOKYO, Nov. 17 Kyodo - The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan on Monday decided to boycott debates on key government bills in the opposition-controlled House of Councillors on Tuesday after Prime Minister Taro Aso stopped short of promising, in his talks with DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa, that the government will submit an extra budget during the ongoing Diet session.
The ruling parties have started to consider how to deal with the expected DPJ
boycott with a view to extending the current session beyond its scheduled end
on Nov. 30 so that as to ensure passage of the two bills -- one to extend
Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and one designed to inject state
funds into financial institutions.
An upper house panel is expected to cancel a vote Tuesday on the bill to extend
Japan's refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in
and near Afghanistan. The ruling parties had hoped to seek final Diet approval
of the bill possibly Thursday.
The latest development came after Aso indicated Friday his intention to push
back dissolving the House of Representatives for an election to next spring or
later despite the DPJ's repeated calls for an early election.
During the 30-minute talks at the prime minister's office, Ozawa demanded that
the government submit during the ongoing Diet session the second extra budget
for the current 2008 fiscal year even if it results in the session being
extended. The budget has been compiled to finance an economic stimulus package
in the wake of the global financial crisis.
But Aso told him, ''I cannot say clearly when I'll be able to submit (the bill)
at this stage, but I'm now making efforts so that the supplementary budget will
be submitted,'' according to the prime minister.
Ozawa said that he would cooperate with the ruling parties during deliberations
on the budget and threatened to resist holding votes in the upper house unless
the budget was submitted.
Aso told Ozawa that he thinks the budget issue ''has nothing to do at all''
with the refueling bill or the so-called bank recapitalization bill and that he
cannot ''easily accept'' the DPJ's plan to refuse engaging in deliberations.
The meeting, held at the DPJ's request, was the first time the prime minister,
who doubles as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has held talks
with Ozawa in their capacity as party leaders since Aso took office in late
September.
Aso did not completely rule out the possibility of submitting the extra budget
during the current session, saying, ''If we can finish (compiling) the
supplementary budget plan, it's not as if I don't have the idea of doing so.''
On whether he plans to extend the ongoing session, Aso told reporters, ''It
will not be decided until the last moment.''
Referring to media reports that Aso appears to be hoping to submit the extra
budget next year, Ozawa told a press conference that such an idea ''makes a
fool of the people.''
''We think that a general election should be held as early as possible. Because
the (Aso) Cabinet has not undergone a general election and has not won public
support, it cannot decide on things,'' Ozawa said.
Although the upper house is expected to vote down the refueling bill, the
ruling coalition of the LDP and its coalition ally the New Komeito party has
been seeking to hold a second vote possibly Thursday in the more powerful lower
house by using its two-thirds majority to override the upper chamber's decision
in line with constitutional provisions.
But such a second vote can only take place in the event that the upper house
rejects a bill or does not hold a vote within 60 days of receiving it from the
lower house.
Aso must hold a general election by next September when the current terms of
lower house members are set to expire.
Meanwhile, the DPJ decided Monday that its members will attend deliberations at
a lower house committee meeting and a plenary session Tuesday, during which
votes on bills that it supports will be held, including one to revise the
Nationality Law.
The ruling parties have started to consider how to deal with the expected DPJ
boycott with a view to extending the current session beyond its scheduled end
on Nov. 30 so that as to ensure passage of the two bills -- one to extend
Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and one designed to inject state
funds into financial institutions.
An upper house panel is expected to cancel a vote Tuesday on the bill to extend
Japan's refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in
and near Afghanistan. The ruling parties had hoped to seek final Diet approval
of the bill possibly Thursday.
The latest development came after Aso indicated Friday his intention to push
back dissolving the House of Representatives for an election to next spring or
later despite the DPJ's repeated calls for an early election.
During the 30-minute talks at the prime minister's office, Ozawa demanded that
the government submit during the ongoing Diet session the second extra budget
for the current 2008 fiscal year even if it results in the session being
extended. The budget has been compiled to finance an economic stimulus package
in the wake of the global financial crisis.
But Aso told him, ''I cannot say clearly when I'll be able to submit (the bill)
at this stage, but I'm now making efforts so that the supplementary budget will
be submitted,'' according to the prime minister.
Ozawa said that he would cooperate with the ruling parties during deliberations
on the budget and threatened to resist holding votes in the upper house unless
the budget was submitted.
Aso told Ozawa that he thinks the budget issue ''has nothing to do at all''
with the refueling bill or the so-called bank recapitalization bill and that he
cannot ''easily accept'' the DPJ's plan to refuse engaging in deliberations.
The meeting, held at the DPJ's request, was the first time the prime minister,
who doubles as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has held talks
with Ozawa in their capacity as party leaders since Aso took office in late
September.
Aso did not completely rule out the possibility of submitting the extra budget
during the current session, saying, ''If we can finish (compiling) the
supplementary budget plan, it's not as if I don't have the idea of doing so.''
On whether he plans to extend the ongoing session, Aso told reporters, ''It
will not be decided until the last moment.''
Referring to media reports that Aso appears to be hoping to submit the extra
budget next year, Ozawa told a press conference that such an idea ''makes a
fool of the people.''
''We think that a general election should be held as early as possible. Because
the (Aso) Cabinet has not undergone a general election and has not won public
support, it cannot decide on things,'' Ozawa said.
Although the upper house is expected to vote down the refueling bill, the
ruling coalition of the LDP and its coalition ally the New Komeito party has
been seeking to hold a second vote possibly Thursday in the more powerful lower
house by using its two-thirds majority to override the upper chamber's decision
in line with constitutional provisions.
But such a second vote can only take place in the event that the upper house
rejects a bill or does not hold a vote within 60 days of receiving it from the
lower house.
Aso must hold a general election by next September when the current terms of
lower house members are set to expire.
Meanwhile, the DPJ decided Monday that its members will attend deliberations at
a lower house committee meeting and a plenary session Tuesday, during which
votes on bills that it supports will be held, including one to revise the
Nationality Law.
