Four opposition parties submitted a petition Wednesday to the House of Representatives, urging the Cabinet to convene an extraordinary Diet session as soon as possible to deal with the worsening economy and other pressing matters.
The petition was signed by 187 lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Party, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, as well as independent Lower House member Etsuko Kawada.
Article 53 of the Constitution says the Cabinet must consider convening an extraordinary session upon demand from a quarter or more members of either Diet chamber.