Prime Minister Takaichi expects extraordinary Diet session to be convened on October 5th, eager for consumption tax reduction

[New York Current Affairs] Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a press conference at home and abroad in the early hours of the 23rd (afternoon of the same day, Japan time) after completing a series of diplomatic trips in New York. Regarding the extraordinary Diet session that is expected to be convened on October 5, the prime minister said, ``I want to achieve results through the development of laws that are more familiar to the people,'' and expressed his desire to pass a bill related to the consumption tax reduction. He also announced plans to submit a bill regarding diversification of crude oil procurement.

The ruling party continues to lack a majority in the House of Councilors, and there is no clear path to enactment of the tax reduction-related bills. The prime minister emphasized, ``I would like to have earnest discussions with the opposition parties, and cooperate broadly on points where we can agree on them to move policy forward.'' "We will carefully prepare and deliberate on the bill so that as many political parties as possible will support it, while giving due consideration and respect to the opinions of each party," he said.

The handling of the bill to reduce the number of members of the House of Representatives will also be a focus of the extraordinary Diet session. The prime minister noted that the passage of the bill was specified in the coalition government agreement with the Japan Restoration Party, and emphasized that ``we must work sincerely to make it a reality.''