Photo/Illutration Members of the Lower House Commission on the Constitution vote to approve a report saying Diet sessions can go online under the Constitution during a session on March 3. (Koichi Ueda)

With an eye to emergencies such as the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Diet is moving closer to allowing plenary sessions to be conducted online. 

The Lower House Commission on the Constitution adopted a report on March 3 saying a general consensus among political parties was that Diet sessions can be held online under the Constitution. 

The report was approved by a majority vote at a commission session that day, paving the way for possible online Diet deliberations.

Article 56, Clause 1 of the Constitution stipulates that a plenary session of the Upper or Lower House cannot be held “unless one-third or more of (the) total membership is present.”

The commission had deliberated on whether lawmakers participating in Diet sessions online would be regarded as “present” as defined in the Constitution when they cannot go to the Diet building due to an outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

The report, adopted by the commission, noted that the provision in the Constitution should be interpreted as requiring lawmakers to participate in Diet sessions in person, in principle.

But the report concluded that a majority of the commission members support lawmakers participating in those sessions online as an exceptional measure should the need for convening a plenary session of the Diet arise in the event of an emergency.

The Lower House Committee on Rules and Administration is expected to discuss procedures for holding online Diet sessions.

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