BY KOHKI WATANABE

There was an unusual situation in the Diet for seventeen days from January 24th to February 9th. The opposition parties ; the Democratic, Communist and Social Democratic Parties, absented themselves from the Diet. In this situation, the ruling parties ; the Liberal Democratic, Liberal and Komei Parties pushed forward with enactment of the Public Offices Election Law Amendment (a cut in the number of seats in the House of Representatives) that reduces the number of the members of the Diet by twenty, which caused the opposition of the other parties. As a result of this, the policy speech of Prime Minister and the questioning of it was held in the absence of the opposition parties for the first time in the history of the Constitution of Japan ; and the bill was passed with no discussion in the House of Councilors.

The bill that caused this unusual Diet session was proposed by the Liberal Party when the coalition government of the Liberal Democratic and Liberal Parties was set up. As one of the aims of this bill, they spoke of Diet reform. In the lingering economic turndown, they say that when ordinary businesses are carrying on personnel reform of their executives, the members of the Diet who work in such a public place should do likewise.

But from the beginning there was speculation by both the Liberal Democratic and Liberal Parties that it was pointed toward creating a government of two major parties. The small-constituency system is one where one member of the Diet is elected in a ward, and is advantageous to a majority party. Therefore, if they reduce proportional representatives, it tends toward a two-party system. In reverse, if they reduce small constituencies, it tends toward a multi-party system. It is difficult to judge which is better. If the political power is based on a two-party system, then its change will be smooth, and it will stabile. But the stability of political power is not always what the people desire, and doesn't always lead to their happiness.

The Democratic Party of Japan, which is the largest opposition party, should have agreed with the bill. The bill should be attractive to the Democratic Party as it is a major party. Why in spite of this, did the Democratic Party put its partnership with the Communist and Social Democratic Parties that oppose the bill ahead of its own interests? The first reason is thought to be distrust of Prime Minister Obuchi who hastened to pass the bill for maintenance of his political power. It is normal that the ruling parties will try to maintain their political power, but not a few people will be opposed to their action of pushing the bill through with their majority in the Diet.

In addition, Yukio Hatoyama, President of the Democratic Party of Japan said, "The ruling parties used the tyranny of the majority with no dialogue, and killed democracy." He held a "Shadow Diet" in Tokyo while the Diet was in session, and criticized the ruling parties. But when the opposition parties absented themselves from the Diet one cannot help but think that they abandoned their duty, because the political party and the politicians have a duty to speak for the people who voted for them and reflect their interests in politics. Therefore, the action of the opposition parties was contrary to the will of the people that voted for them.

The Asahi and Hokkaido Newspapers didn't admit the fault of the opposition parties, and criticized the ruling parties. It is difficult to sympathize with the view. It is thought that they were complaining about the ruling parties pushing through the bill with their majority in the Diet. The Asahi and Hokkaido Newspapers wanted to say that the action of the ruling parties varied from the concept of democracy that reflects the nation's will. If this is the reason, it can be somewhat understood.

As a result of this situation, questions were raised as to what a member of the Diet should be. They can fulfill their role only within the Diet. In the future, it is hoped that both the ruling and opposition parties will thoroughly discuss things, and reflect the opinions of the people that voted for them. That is what Japanese politics should be. What do you think?