Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's contentious postal privatization bills narrowly cleared the House of Representatives on Tuesday as dozens of lawmakers in the Liberal Democratic Party joined the opposition camp in voting against the legislation.
The bills to privatize Japan Post beginning in 2007 cleared the 480-seat chamber by five votes -- 233 for and 228 against -- and were sent to the House of Councilors.
Although the LDP, which Koizumi heads, and its coalition partner, New Komeito, have a combined majority of 284 seats in the Lower House, 37 LDP lawmakers voted against the bills and 14 others either abstained or boycotted the plenary session.