Opposition parties criticize consumption tax reduction bill: ``Contents unknown'' and ``stain on constitutional history''

Following the passage of the consumption tax reduction bill in the House of Representatives, opposition parties who opposed the bill were criticized on the 6th, saying that the government and ruling party's explanations were insufficient. Regarding the new benefits included in the bill, Democratic Party of Japan representative Yuichiro Tamaki said, ``The biggest problem is that we still don't know what's inside.'' He responded to an interview with reporters inside the Diet.

Ishiba, Obuchi and others abstained from voting to object to consumption tax reduction bill

Mr. Tamaki also took issue with the fact that the ruling party did not hold a debate in favor of the bill at plenary sessions or committee meetings before voting. Referring to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ``desire'' to reduce taxes, he emphasized, ``We abdicated our responsibility to explain why this system is necessary and passed it through the House of Representatives through the power of numbers.''

Mitsunari Okamoto, leader of the New Komeito Party, said that it remains unclear who will receive the benefits, and said, ``The bill is not in a form worthy of its name.'' ``The very fact that such a bill was passed through the legislature left a stain on constitutional history,'' he said.

Junya Ogawa, representative of the Democratic Reform Association, expressed dissatisfaction, saying, ``I didn't see many convincing explanations or convincing answers.'' Sohei Kamiya, representative of the political party, pointed out that ``absolutely no thorough deliberation has been done.''

Regarding the Prime Minister's response to questions from the opposition party in the final stages of the deliberations, Communist Party Chairwoman Tomoko Tamura said, ``It was my earnest wish, but the question-and-answer session only lasted for one hour,'' indicating that it was insufficient.