Second Policy Speech of Ishiba

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba made a policy speech in both Houses of the Diet on November 29th. He must have seen different view of audience in the House of Representatives. In the general election in late October, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suffered terrible defeat and the leading coalition by the LDP and Komeito lost a simple majority. Ishiba insisted on humbleness in handlings of policies in his second term as the prime minister to ask cooperation of the opposition parties. 

It was the second time for Ishiba to give a policy speech to the Diet. In the first speech in early October, he apologized about the slush fund scandal which caused broad skepticisms on obscure management of political funds in the LDP and resignation of Ishiba’s predecessor, Fumio Kishida. However, public criticisms against the LDP became far stronger than what Ishiba had expected. The LDP lost significant number of seats in the Lower House’s general election afterward.

 

Ishiba quoted a speech of former Prime Minister Tanzan Ishibashi in 1957. “As the basis of national politics, we need to establish a system of regular discussion, disclose each standpoint and cooperate each other to catch up with the progress of the world,” said Ishiba at the beginning of his policy speech. It was a request of cooperation to the members of the Diet in order to meet political demands of the people in Japan.

 

The most focused part of his speech was economic stimulus plan, which Ishiba expected to be approved in this session. “On so-called ‘Wall of 1.03 million yen,’ I will raise the threshold in the discussion for tax reform for FY 2025,” said Ishiba. It is a key issue for the LDP to secure necessary votes from the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) to pass the supplementary budget bill.

 

Whether Ishiba can get approval of DPP in this session may affect destiny of Ishiba Cabinet, which is facing some frustration in the LDP over low approval rate. There is a discussion in the LDP whether Ishiba can withstand as the party leader for election of the House of Councillors next summer.

 

Reference on political reform in the speech lacked enthusiasm. Ishiba listed up some policies already approved by the LDP, which was abolishing political activities fund, disclosing allowances from the Diet or establishing an observation body. He did not step into banning donations from private companies and organizations, which most opposition parties demand.

 

While Ishiba proposed some of his own policies, including revision of the status of forces agreement with the United States, he retreated from constitutional amendment. In the policy speech in October, Ishiba showed willingness to amend the constitution within his term as the prime minister. This time, he simply expected the lawmakers to promote discussion over the issue. It is obvious that this minority government cannot afford to deal with an issue not in urgency.

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