An opposition-controlled Upper House panel Thursday rejected a special antiterrorism bill to enable the Maritime Self-Defense Force to resume its refueling operations in the Indian Ocean, in a last-minute bid to block its expected passage Friday in the ruling bloc-dominated Lower House.
Although the bill is set to be rejected again Friday during the Upper House plenary session, the legislation will be passed later in the day by the Lower House by an overriding two-thirds vote by members of the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling coalition.
Article 59 of the Constitution stipulates that even if the upper chamber rejects a bill, it can still be passed by a two-thirds lower chamber overriding vote.
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