222nd Extraordinary Diet session convenes, Prime Minister Takaichi delivers policy speech, focus on consumption tax reduction

The 222nd extraordinary Diet session will be convened on the 5th. This is the first Diet session after the inauguration of the second Takaichi reshuffled cabinet. The government has placed a top priority on enacting a consumption tax reduction bill for food products, and the ruling party is also working to reduce the number of members of the House of Representatives. It is likely that there will be a fierce debate with the opposition parties. The exhibition period is 69 days until December 12th.

Prime Minister Takaichi puts all his efforts into economic growth, speech expressing his views at the Diet

On the day of the convocation, an opening ceremony will be held with the presence of His Majesty the Emperor. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will deliver a statement of intent speech at the plenary sessions of both Houses of Representatives, emphasizing the need for a consumption tax reduction.

Questions from representatives of the House of Representatives from each party regarding the prime minister's speech will be held from the 7th to the 9th. The opposition parties are expected to insist on defunding the consumption tax cut and improving measures to combat rising prices. The government also plans to examine the qualifications of the new cabinet ministers, including Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Kazuo Yan, who said that local governments' budgets had been cut.

The main focus on the consumption tax reduction bill is whether it can be passed and enacted in the House of Councilors, where the ruling party does not have a majority. The ruling party hopes to reach out to the opposition parties and gain their cooperation.

Regarding the House of Representatives election reform, the ruling and opposition parties have confirmed that they will reach a conclusion by the end of this month, but there are wide differences, including whether they are for or against reducing the number of seats. If no agreement is reached, the ruling party plans to resume deliberations on a bill to reduce the number of proportional representatives by 45, which was submitted to the last special Diet session and continued to be debated. The opposition parties are poised to unite in their opposition.

Opposition parties are wary of ``Parliament reform'' led by the Prime Minister's Office progressing during the extraordinary Diet session, including a decline in Prime Minister's attendance. On the other hand, the Democratic Reform Party, Komeito, and the Constitutional Democratic Party, which were unable to unite to form the centrist reform coalition, are likely to be asked whether they will be able to stand together and confront the government and ruling party.

Questions and answers at the House of Representatives Budget Committee, attended by the prime minister and all cabinet members, are scheduled to begin on the 13th.