The House of Councilors on Wednesday began deliberating controversial bills that would allow law enforcement authorities to wiretap private communications during investigations into organized crime.
The Upper House held a question-and-answer session after Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi stressed the necessity of enacting the three bills, which were approved by the Lower House on June 1 on the strength of votes from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner, the Liberal Party, and New Komeito.
Members of the Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party boycotted last week's Lower House plenary session vote, while the Japanese Communist Party attended the session and voted against the bills.