NHK

Japan's ruling bloc seeking to enact key bills before current Diet session ends

Japan's ruling bloc aims to get key bills passed by the Diet before the current session ends next Wednesday. The largest opposition is mulling whether to submit a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet over a plan to increase defense spending.

Some in the ruling and opposition parties say that if the motion is presented, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio may dissolve the Lower House for a snap election.

The ruling camp wants to have a vote on a bill that would ensure funding to boost defense expenditures at the Upper House Financial Affairs Committee on Thursday. The government considers the bill as the most important in the current Diet session.

The opposition parties will decide on whether they agree on the vote after seeing what action the ruling camp takes.

The ruling camp also aims to enact the bill at an Upper House plenary session on Friday, along with two others. They are a bill to promote understanding of the LGBTQ community and another to revise the Penal Code regarding sexual crimes.

Senior members of the largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party will discuss on Thursday whether to submit a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet.

Many in the party argue that it should do so to make clear its position of opposing the government's plan to increase taxes for more defense spending.

Prime Minister Kishida appears to be closely watching deliberations on the bills, as well as what stance opposition parties are taking.

He held talks on Wednesday with Miyazawa Yoichi, his close aide and chairperson of the Research Commission on the Tax System of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He has also met with senior government officials frequently.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230615_04/