Leaders Debate in the Diet Starts

The Diet session entered the three-day debate in Plenary Sittings of both Houses. In the answers to the questions from opposition leaders, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi insisted that she hoped FY2026 budget bill to pass the Diet before the end of March. The opposition parties required thorough discussion over the budget regardless the limit. It is possible that super majority in the Lower House affect discussion over the budget. 

It is usual that the prime minister makes a policy speech at the beginning of annual ordinary session convoked in January and the leaders of parties ask questions to the premier. It is followed by questionary session. In the three-day session, the questions are made in the Lower House in the afternoon of the first and the second day, and in the Upper House in the morning of the second day and whole day of the third.

 

On the first day, February 24th, Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Co-leader of Japan Innovation Party asked Takaichi questions about her policies. The reason why their questions are not much paid attention is because they can ask any questions in the meetings within the leading coalition. They do not ask harsh questions to the prime minister, because they fundamentally support the premier.

 

After two leading parties, Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA) cast questions from critical perspectives against Takaichi administration. The CRA leader, Jun-ya Ogawa, tried to reconfirm that Takaichi would not shorten the discussion over FY2026 budget bill to enable an early passage of the bill. Takaichi plainly replied that she hoped to pass it as early as possible not to affect people’s life.

 

The questioners submit abstract of their questions to prime minister’s office in advance. Prime minister’s staffs prepare the answers before the session of the Diet. Accordingly, the Q&A becomes something improvisational but nominal. The detailed and improvisational Q&A will be made in Committee on Budget after the three-day session. It is usual that the committee discuss an annual budget bill for 100 hours in the Lower House and 70 hours in the Upper House. Takaichi wants to shorten that and the oppositions protest.

 

On the question about how Takaichi would be going to discuss consumption tax cut, which she had included in her campaign platform in the Lower House election, she told that she would call for participation to a “national conference” by opposition parties which would approve refundable tax credit. That condition excluded Japan Communist Party or Reiwa Shinsengumi. CRA and democratic Party for the People have already taken distance from the conference. The conference is supposed to be a partial meeting of nationals, mainly composed by leading parties.

 

Takaichi dismissed a possibility of making further investigation on the kickback scandal in the LDP. She reiterated her determination for policy reform, “based on confidence given by the people.”

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