Prime Minister’s New Year Press Conference

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had a new year press conference in Ise city, Mie, after visiting Ise Shrine on January 5th. She announced that her government would launch a national conference for reform of social security system by the end of January. Since social security reform is one of the crucial policy for Japan Innovation Party (JIP), the coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Takaichi focuses on reinforcing the tie with JIP through social security issue. 

“To lighten the payment for tax or premium of social insurances for the people with low or middle income, we will increase take-home pay according to their income,” said Takaichi in the press conference. It is likely that the conference will discuss details of the system for refundable tax credit, which Takaichi has been considering before she took office of prime minister.

 

The JIP has been insisting that lightening burden of worker’s age in payment for social security should be a very important issue. Top opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), has also been advocating refundable tax credit, since it was leading its government in 2012. Given minority government in the Upper House, Takaichi hopes to establish a cooperative framework in this issue beyond party lines.

 

On diplomacy, Takaichi did not get into details about the United States’ raid on Venezuela in the press conference. “Our nation has been paying respect to basic values or principles like freedom, democracy and rule of law. Based on this unchanged stance, we promote diplomatic efforts to restore democracy and stability in Venezuela,” she said without accusing violation of international laws by U.S. Donald Trump administration.

 

Japan has expressed its understanding on U.S. strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran last June. Japan has not showed unequivocal support for the U.S. this time. Some opposition leaders questioned U.S. intervention in Venezuela. “It is doubtful for the U.S. to execute military operation in Venezuela, in light of international laws. Japan needs to say that changing status quo by force cannot be tolerated” said the leader of CDPJ, Yoshihiko Noda.

 

In his press conference on the same day, Noda predicted that a snap election will be called within this year. It is broadly recognized that a prime minister does not say about when she or he calls a snap election. Takaichi did not refer to her decision about snap election. She seems to consider her approval rate or election strategy including cooperation with the coalition partner, JIP.

 

If the LDP and JIP cannot agree on a common election strategy, in which both parties are not compete each other in single-seat districts, JIP may reduce its seat, because its policies against ruling of LDP have been a selling point in previous election. There is no choice to criticize LDP in next election, as long as the party remains in the framework of coalition with the LDP.

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