Aso Mulling Extending Parliamentary Session by at Least 20 Days

Tokyo, Nov. 19 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is considering extending the current session of parliament by at least 20 days to pass key legislation.

The move comes as the largest opposition party resists putting key
government-sponsored bills, including an extension of the country's naval
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, to votes at parliament's upper
chamber.
The opposition Democratic Party of Japan has chosen a more
confrontational approach as Aso rejected its demand that the government
submit a second extra budget to the current parliamentary session, set to
end on Nov. 30.
An extension of 20 days paves the way for passage of the refueling
bill because the legislation can be put to a second vote at the lower
chamber on Dec. 20, 60 days after its initial Oct. 21 passage.
Aso is also considering another option to extend the parliamentary
session by 40 days to pass a bank bailout in addition to the refueling bill.
The bailout bill aimed at allowing the government to inject capital
into banks can be put to a similar second vote on Jan. 5 under the 60-day
constitutional rule.
On Tuesday, Aso told reporters that the two bills are very
important and that he will take necessary steps to pass them.