TOKYO— Japan’s ruling party pushed contentious security bills through a legislative committee Thursday, catching the opposition by surprise and causing chaos in the chamber.
Opposition lawmakers surged toward the chairman’s seat as they realized something was up after ruling party legislators had gathered at the podium to protect him.
As the scrum intensified, ruling party lawmakers still in their seats stood up to signal their support for the legislation, though there didn’t appear to be an audible announcement of what they were voting on.
Opposition lawmakers surge toward the chairman's seat to protest as ruling party colleagues rush in to try to protect him during a committee voting of security bills at the upper house in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko
