Policy Debate over Takaichi’s Agenda

The extraordinary session of the Diet started debate over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s policy speech by the representatives of parties. Takaichi was fundamentally negative on promoting political reforms on donations or reduction of Diet seats. Instead, she showed her ambition to promote her economic policies. It is still unclear whether she can overcome current situation of a minority government in the Diet. 

The reduction of Diet seat is one of the commitments in the agreement for building a coalition between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan Innovation Party (JIP). They agreed on concluding 10 percent reduction in proportional district of the House of Representatives during current session of the Diet. However, the opposition parties are firmly negative on LDP-JIP idea, because reduction only in proportional district works against small parties.

 

The leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, Yoshihiko Noda, proposed Takaichi that the reduction must be balanced between single-seat districts and proportional district. Takaichi replied that comprehensive agreement would be important for a seat reduction. Although LDP and JIP are going to establish a conference to discuss the seat reduction, it is possible that it will end up with discussion without a firm conclusion in this session of the Diet, if Takaichi listen carefully to complaints from the oppositions.

 

On political regulation of donation from companies and organizations, Chief Representative of Komeito, Tetsuo Saito who decided secession from Takaichi LDP, prompted Takaichi a determination against false management of political fund, saying “Without faith, nothing stands.” Takaichi only answered that she would discuss it, considering necessity and compatibility.

 

“I will discuss it” seems to be her routine concept to deal with political agenda. Takaichi told that she would “consider” introduction of refundable tax credit or selective different surname, given requests from the opposition leaders. She insisted that she would establish discussion bodies for reform of social insurance beyond the border of parties and for “sub-capital initiative” which is earnestly requested by JIP.

 

It was remarkable that Takaichi evaluated the outcome of economic policy of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, or Abenomics. She argued that Abe’s growth strategy to encourage private investment had not been sufficient. It was unusual for Takaichi to negatively review economic policy of Abe, whom she reveres as her mentor in politics.

 

Takaichi proposed accumulation of defense budget and more import of defense equipment from the United States in the summit meeting with President Donald Trump the previous week. However, she stayed at “considering” early implementation of 2 percent target of defense budget against GDP or deregulation of exporting defense equipment. She has still not found the fiscal resource for double down defense spendings.

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