House of Representatives Commission on the Constitution: Parties Debate over Extension of Diet Members' Term in Emergency

Four ruling and opposition parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Restoration Party, called on the House of Representatives Commission on the Constitution to deepen discussions toward the realization of constitutional revision, regarding the extension of the term of Diet members in emergencies such as large-scale disasters. The DPJ argued that it would be possible to respond by amending the law, and that no constitutional amendment was necessary.

At the beginning of the House of Representatives Commission on the Constitution on the 1st, the Legislative Bureau of the House of Representatives explained materials that organized the arguments of each party regarding the extension of the terms of Diet members in the event that it is difficult to hold an election due to an emergency such as a large-scale disaster or war. , then a discussion took place.

Among them, Shindo, acting chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's political affairs research, said, "Members of both the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party, the Japan Restoration Party, and the Democratic Party for the People clearly state the need for a constitutional amendment that provides for the extension of parliamentary terms. In the future, I would like to discuss whether it is difficult to conduct an appropriate election in some cases."

In addition, the Japan Restoration Party, Komeito, and the Democratic Party for the People all agreed on the necessity of extending the term of office, and argued that individual issues such as the upper limit of the extension period should be deepened.

In response, Constitutional Democratic Party Chairman Nakagawa said, ``Only in an emergency, even after the term of office as a member of the House of Representatives has ended, until a new member is elected in the next election, the actual 'authority' of the member will continue. There is also an option to make it possible. This can be realized by amending the Diet law, and the current constitution is fully possible."

In addition, the Communist Party has opposed the extension of the term of office, saying that it will deprive the people of the opportunity to hear the will of the people in the election.