Japan's opposition "Nippon Ishin no Kai" to release reform plan for Lower House election

OSAKA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Japan's opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), launched by Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, decided Monday to release next month its draft proposal on reforming the current system for Lower House election, local press reported.

The decision was approved at an executive board meeting held on Monday to support a tentative plan drawn by an election reform research committee formed by a group of the Osaka-based party's Diet members, according to Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK), Japan's public broadcaster.

According to the report, the plan will propose reducing the number of seats in the 480-seat House of Representatives by 30 percent, also calling for a shift from the current single-member constituency system to one with medium-sized constituencies.

But the plan is expected to undergo further discussion because Hashimoto, joint representative of the party, has been strongly opposed to introducing a medium-sized constituency system.

Meanwhile on Monday, the party held its first video conference between its Osaka headquarters and its main office for Diet members, aiming to show that the party's leader in Osaka is focused on enhancing mutual understanding after a series of disputes between the two sides came to light recently.

Opening the conference that was joined by about 10 lawmakers in Tokyo, Hashimoto told reporters he would like to decide the party' s policy through discussions like this event since it is quite natural for politicians to have their differences.

We recommend:
Mango Festival held in Zambales, the Philippines	10th anniversary of Iraq War: bitter memories of U.S.	Palestinian protest against visit of Obama in West Bank
Police foil weapon smuggling attempts in Pakistan	Malaysia launches all-out attack in Sabah	Afghans celebrate New Year in Persian calendar