The House of Representatives on May 23 approved a controversial "anti-conspiracy" bill that would criminalize preparation for terrorism and other crimes by changing the conditions that constitute conspiracy, despite protests from main opposition parties.
The ruling coalition comprised of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, as well as the opposition Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) voted for the bill to revise the Act on Punishment of Organized Crimes and Control of Crime Proceeds at a May 23 plenary session. The bill will now be referred to the House of Councillors for deliberation.
The governing bloc aims to begin deliberations on the bill at the upper chamber on May 24. However, the Democratic Party (DP) and Japanese Communist Party, among other opposition parties, are stiffening their resistance to the move. A tug-of-war is accordingly intensifying between ruling and opposition parties over the proposed legislation.
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