Term of the Diet Extended

The Diet decided to extend its term of current session for eight days with approval of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan Innovation Party (JIP). Although those leading parties have been trying to pass all the bills submitted by Sanae Takaichi Cabinet before the end of the term set on July 17th, boycott of discussions by opposition parties made it impossible. The opposition parties accused Takaichi’s misconduct to the Diet. 

This is very unusual Diet session this year. Ordinary session was convoked on January 23rd and ended the same day, due to Takaichi’s decision to dissolve the House of Representative. After the Lower House election on early February, the government set a special session with term of 150 days, the same as an ordinary session of ordinary year, starting on February 18th and ending on July 17th.

 

At the final weeks in current session, Takaichi was not willing to attend Diet discussion. Being criticized of defamation in her campaign of LDP presidential election last October, Takaichi refused to answer opposition party’s question in the Diet. The opposition parties, that have majority in the Upper House, boycotted Diet discussion in late June and early July. Some bills were left unpassed.

 

Takaichi prioritized passage of revised Imperial House Law and National Flag Vandalism Punishment Act for the final phase of the session. The LDP has not been active on extension of the Diet session. Every year, post-ordinary session season is the time for the lawmakers to get back to their home town, meet their supporters to rebuild their political basis and prepare for next election. Extension of the Diet session will reduce their chances to return their electoral districts.

 

The LDP submitted a move to the Diet to extend the term of current special session. The Diet Law provides that an ordinary session can be extended for once and extraordinary and special session for twice. The LDP has a majority in the Lower House and not in the Upper House. The Diet Law provides that the decision of the Lower House will stand on extension of the term, if two chambers made different decisions.

 

The extension of the current session for eight days was thus approved with majority of support of the LDP in the Lower House. Using those eight days, the LDP hopes to pass the bill of Backup Capital and some other ones. Backup Capital bill is strongly supported by JIP, because the law is supposed to support Osaka Capital Initiative which is highly crucial issue for JIP.

 

However, the opposition parties are skeptical about Backup Capital Initiative which mainly benefits Osaka. Although the bill passed the Lower House with approval of the LDP, JIP and Team Mirai, those three parties do not have majority in the Upper House. Opposition parties require detailed discussion in the Diet to examine necessity of the bill in the Upper House. It is unclear whether the bill can pass the Upper House within the extended term of the Diet.

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