The six major political parties agreed Wednesday to submit a bill to reform the nation's electoral system to the Diet as early as next week, laying the groundwork for the next general election, which must be held by the autumn.
Among the changes considered by the secretaries general of the parties is a ban on lawmakers who win their Diet seat through proportional representation from moving to another party after being elected.
The party-hopping ban would not apply to lawmakers who wish to become independent or to join a newly launched party, they said after their afternoon meeting.