Japan Ruling Bloc Rams Debt Deferment Bill through Lower House

Tokyo, Nov. 20 (Jiji Press)--Japan's ruling coalition bulldozed a debt deferment bill through the House of Representatives early Friday amid strong resistance from the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party.

The powerful lower chamber of parliament adopted the bill by a
majority vote led by the coalition that brings together the Democratic Party
of Japan and two smaller allies. The LDP boycotted the vote.
The passage came after the Lower House voted down LDP-sponsored
resolutions seeking to dismiss the DPJ chairmen of two committees.
The LDP submitted the resolutions in protest after the ruling
coalition railroaded the bill through one of the Lower House committees
Thursday.
The clash between the ruling and opposition camps is expected to
intensify in the lead-up to the end of the current session of parliament on
Nov. 30.
The ruling bloc aims to enact the bill by getting it through the
House of Councillors, or the Upper House, on Wednesday.
The bill is designed to support small businesses and housing loan
borrowers by facilitating deferment of debt repayment and changes in loan
terms.