Asia - Pacific

New parliament session set to test Japan’s minority government

Premier Ishiba will have to accept demands of smaller parties to pass his bills in lower house where it needs 233 votes

Riyaz up Khaliq  | 24.01.2025 - Update : 24.01.2025
New parliament session set to test Japan’s minority government Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba

ISTANBUL

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces a major test as the new parliamentary session began on Friday, with his minority government needing support from smaller parties to push through critical legislation.

In his address to the lower house, Ishiba emphasized his vision of transforming Japan into a more "sustainable" and "independent" nation.

The 150-day parliamentary session will require Ishiba's coalition, made up of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, to secure backing from smaller parties in order to pass government bills, including the national budget.

The LDP-Komeito coalition currently holds 221 seats in the House of Representatives, falling 12 votes short of the 233 needed to pass legislation in the 465-member chamber.

To bridge the gap, the coalition has been in talks with the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), which holds 21 seats.

“Both the ruling and opposition parties must engage in deliberations thoroughly and strive to make sure that the people understand and stand with us,” Ishiba said, calling for bipartisan support ahead of the budget debate.

Last month, Ishiba’s Cabinet approved a record 115.54 trillion yen ($733 billion) draft budget for fiscal 2025, which begins in March.

According to Kyodo News, the government plans to introduce about 60 bills during the session, which will run until June 22.

Among these proposals is a plan to raise the income threshold for tax payments, a demand by the DPP.

While the coalition maintains a majority in the upper house, Ishiba’s government also faces security challenges, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s return as the 47th US president.

Japan, which hosts over 50,000 US troops, has, however, seen improved ties with US arch rival China.


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