Originally, the ruling had considered passing the bill last Friday, June 8, but refrained from doing so, apparently in order to avoid any adverse impact on Niigata gubernatorial elections on June 10.
This was criticized by some opposition lawmakers as an attempt to hide the casino issue from public scrutiny, as well as a tacit admission that the people don’t favor this legislation.
House of Councillors debate on the IR Implementation Bill is expected to begin on June 15, only days before the scheduled end of the Ordinary Diet Session on June 20.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is widely expected to extend the Diet session by about twenty days in order to allow time for him to enact several contentious pieces of legislation, including the IR bill. Opposition parties are strongly criticizing this idea as well, but have no means to prevent it from occurring.
Source: GMB/AG Brief