The lower house of Japan’s parliament has approved controversial security bills that allow the country’s army to expand its role overseas.

On Thursday, Japanese lawmakers voted in favor of the legislation despite widespread criticism from the public and opposition groups.

This came a day after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling bloc, the Liberal Democratic Party, pushed for the passing of the bills to strengthen the country’s Self-Defense Forces.

The vote was boycotted by the main opposition parties.

Opposition groups, opposing lawmakers, legal experts, and analysts say the bills are unconstitutional and will get Japan involved in US-led conflicts around the world.

Protest organizers said about 100,000 demonstrators gathered outside the parliament, chanting slogans and holding placards reading, “No War, No Killing,” and “Scrap the War Bills.”

Recent polls show some 80 percent of Japanese people find the legislation difficult to comprehend, while the majority of people also think it is unconstitutional.

The legislation is expected to move to the upper chamber of the parliament for further debate. It will be voted on in the upper house within the next 60 days.

If the bills are approved, Japan will be allowed to fight overseas under the so-called Collective Self-Defense doctrine.

However, if the upper house of the parliament refrains to vote for the bills, they will be sent back to the lower house for a final decision. The lower chamber’s say overrides that of the upper house.