The outline of a “bill to promote gender equality in the political field,” which will be presented to the ordinary Diet session to be convened on Jan. 20, is as follows:

• Aim to field an “equal” number of male and female candidates as much as possible (the four opposition parties want to field the “same” number of male and female candidates) in Lower House, Upper House and local elections.
• Each political party should take the initiative in setting its own target for the number of male and female candidates it will field.
• The central and local governments should introduce policies that help foster and make use of personnel. (The four opposition parties did not make this proposal; this was an idea from the Liberal Democratic Party and others)
• The central government should take legal and financial steps when needed.