Ruling party poised to pass the House of Representatives on the 6th, consumption tax cut not making progress with opposition parties

The ruling party is poised to pass the consumption tax reduction bill, which is the main focus of the current Diet session, on the 6th. Opposition parties criticize the funding source for the tax cut and the design of the new benefit system as unclear. There is no understanding of the bill.

National Democratic Party demands acceptance of counterproposal, consumption tax cut, public and private sectors oppose

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will attend the House of Representatives Finance Committee on the 6th for an hour and answer questions from opposition parties. The ruling party has already proposed a schedule for the committee and plenary session to vote on the bill on the same day. The opposition parties have indicated that they intend to judge the pros and cons of the prime minister's response.

Regarding the bill, opposition parties have repeatedly called for details of the funding source for the tax cut and the income-linked ``employee burden reduction support''. The government has indicated a ``reference value'' of the amount of benefits for low-income earners that will be introduced next fiscal year at around 5,000 yen a year, but opposition parties are not convinced, saying ``we don't know the whole picture.''

The Komeito Party and the Democratic Reform Party, which are part of the centrist coalition in the House of Representatives, are opposing the bill. The Democratic Party for the People is also calling for the acceptance of a counterproposal centered on reductions in resident tax and income tax, saying, ``There is no way we can support the bill as it stands now'' (Representative Yuichiro Tamaki).

The National Participation Party, Team Mirai, the Japanese Communist Party, and the Life Party also plan to oppose the move.