In a speech before a Diet devoid of opposition members, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi called Friday for the creation of a nation in which individuals are not submerged in society but showcase their abilities and help invigorate the country. The opposition decided to boycott the session to protest the ruling coalition's strong-arm tactics in pushing through the Lower House a bill to reduce the number of proportional-representation seats. In his policy speech before the plenary sessions of both Diet chambers, Obuchi urged the nation to look forward to the new century and underlined education as one of the key tasks before his Cabinet. He also reiterated that his government will continue to strive to secure full economic recovery, adding that a recovery must be under way before fiscal reconsolidation is dealt with. "I am taking the nation's debt seriously. I have never forgotten the significance of fiscal reform, but I cannot pursue economic recovery and fiscal reform at the same time," he said. To buttress an economic upswing, the government the same day submitted to the Diet its fiscal 2000 budget, worth a record 84.99 trillion yen. Obuchi's key goal is to get the budget passed as early as possible before March 31, the end of the current fiscal year. Concerning another key item on his agenda for the year, Obuchi pledged to make the July Group of Eight summit in Okinawa a success in order to fulfill Japan's responsibility as a member of the international community. Obuchi said he wants to issue "a bright, powerful message" at the July 21-23 summit, adding that he hopes to reflect the interests of Japan's Asian neighbors in the discussions. The main opposition parties -- the Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party -- boycotted the plenary sessions to protest the ruling coalition's railroading of the controversial seat-cutting bill through the Lower House the previous day. It marked the first time in modern history that a prime minister's policy speech has been boycotted by the opposition. On Thursday night, the Lower House approved the bill, which abolished 20 proportional representation seats in the 500-member Lower House. The approval was achieved with support from the ruling bloc -- the Liberal Democratic Party, Liberal Party and New Komeito -- during a plenary session that was also boycotted by the opposition. The opposition has vowed to boycott all Diet deliberations unless Thursday's vote is annulled. In his speech, the prime minister said that with the arrival of 2000, he sees the need to change Japanese society into one in which individuals can demonstrate their abilities and contribute to the dignity of the state. On this note, he borrowed from the recommendations made in a report issued earlier in the month by an advisory panel on 21st century reforms for the nation. "I believe the relationship between individuals and the public good should cease to be a vertical one and become more of a level one, and that the two should build a relationship of cooperative governance through joint efforts," he said. The panel called for changes to such pivotal institutions as education and social security based on the "need for a fundamental change of perception to facilitate a stronger relationship between the individual and the public domain." Obuchi noted that in line with such needs, the government is preparing to submit various bills that will form the backbone of such a turnaround in Japanese society. In total, 92 bills are to be submitted during the 150-day ordinary Diet session, including 37 related to the fiscal 2000 budget. As for educational reform, Obuchi said he hopes to see all Japanese able to communicate in English, the common language of the international community, as well as have access to the Internet in the new century. "All people living in the 21st century should be able to communicate in English, while also acquiring the skill to use beautiful Japanese. They should also be able to enter the international community at will via the Internet," he said. The nurturing of creative people should be a major goal of education and Japan must not only review its conventional education system but also conduct more drastic reforms with this in mind, Obuchi said. He will launch "a national conference on educational reform" as early as possible to thoroughly discuss the issue, he added. To survive in the international community, Japanese society should put more emphasis on diversity rather than uniformity, Obuchi said. Concerning the social system, he said that legislators have a responsibility to create a society where people of all generations can enjoy a safe and comfortable life while deciding on their own lifestyles. To achieve this, his government will review the nation's medical and pension systems as well as the way senior citizens are cared for and in light of public needs, he said. Obuchi's efforts to deliver a powerful message to the Diet and the nation through his policy speech were undermined by the absence of the opposition. The boycott threatens to throw Diet proceedings into confusion over the coming months. Opposition lawmakers are calling for the early dissolution of the Lower House, accusing the ruling alliance of using its overwhelming numbers to try to railroad bills and control the Diet. Obuchi must call a general election before October, when the terms of the Lower House members expire. As the deadline approaches, speculation is mounting as to when he will actually make his move. It is obvious he will try to do so at a time when there is support for his coalition.