Political Cease Fire Appears in Japan

Concerning possible negative impact of Trump’s tariff policy on Japanese economy, the leading and the opposition parties show unusual collaboration, seeking necessary measures for business sectors and the people. Although they have been opposing each other over policies for these years, it seems to be the time for them to make constructive discussion to support people’s daily life. They know well that political struggle in the time of economic and diplomatic emergency does not work for the election scheduled in July. 

It was an immediate decision of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to declare “national crisis,” when the U.S. President Donald Trump announced activating “reciprocal” tariffs on foreign products early April. The United States has been the top country for Japanese products to go. Ishiba’s contemplation that the tariff would cause a serious damage on Japanese economy were making sense.

 

The leaders of all major parties, regardless friends or foes, convened in the Diet to discuss how to respond to Trump’s unilateral decision against free trade system that had been dominating post-World War II international economy. The opposition leaders refrained from accusing political handlings of Ishiba, which had been usual in the Diet over management of political funds in the Liberal Democratic Party or repeated change of courses over welfare policy such as high-cost medical payment. Trump’s tariffs gave Ishiba an opportunity to unite the parties under a cause to deal with unexpected crisis.

 

Instead, the opposition parties demanded a venue in the Diet for them to gain their own  political advantages. The parties agreed on having intensive discussion over tariff issue in both Houses of the Diet. “The biggest concern is financial difficulty for small and mid-size entrepreneurs,” said the head of Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Yoshihiko Noda. The opposition parties put priority on supporting measures for small businesses to scandals over political funds.

 

Committees on Fundamental National Policies of both Houses agreed on having a “Question Time,” one-on-one debate between the prime minister and the opposition leaders, on April 23rd for the first time in this ordinary session. They will have the discussion every month until the session closes in June. Ishiba also accepted the question time in the extraordinary session last fall.

 

The Question Time was introduced for active discussion between the prime minister and opposition leaders in 2000, based on the system in United Kingdom parliament. However, some prime ministers, namely Shinzo Abe or Fumio Kishida, have been reluctant to have that debate, worrying about political failure in the discussion. Acknowledged as a skilled speaker, Ishiba does not escape from the debate. It will be the good opportunity or the opposition leaders to show their eloquence to the voters.

 

The Question Time is held for forty-five minutes. The opposition leaders share the time for their questions, but there hasve been complaints that the time was too short to make detailed and meaningful debate. Extension of each question time is one of the fundamental talking points for the leaders. 

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