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Japanese political parties' election pledges on key issues

Japanese political parties' election pledges on key issues

The Mainichi6 hours ago
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The following are key campaign pledges made by major Japanese political parties for the House of Councillors election on July 20.
Liberal Democratic Party will:
-- provide 20,000 yen ($140) in cash handouts per person to support households struggling with high prices, with extra 20,000 yen added per child and low-income earner.
-- raise wages by about 1 million yen by fiscal 2030.
-- secure budget to protect domestic industry and employment from the fallout of higher U.S. tariffs.
-- drastically strengthen defense capabilities in the face of the most severe security environment since World War II.
-- increase transparency of political funds.
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan will:
-- cut 8 percent consumption tax rate on food to zero from April 2026 for a year in principle, financing the measure without relying on the issuance of deficit-covering bonds.
-- provide 20,000 yen per person as a short-term measure before the tax cut.
-- create a system to allow couples to have separate surnames and make same-sex marriage legal.
-- halt the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma within Okinawa Prefecture, and seek negotiations to revise the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement.
-- ban political donations from companies, organizations.
Komeito party will:
-- provide cash handouts, such as 20,000 yen per person, to support livelihoods, using tax revenue increases to cover the funds.
-- seek to create a housing allowance system to support the payment of rents by low-income households and families with small children.
-- work to create an environment toward Japan's participation in a U.N. treaty outlawing nuclear weapons.
Japan Innovation Party will:
-- cut consumption tax rate for food to zero for two years.
-- make education from preschool to high school free, regardless of income.
Democratic Party for the People will:
-- raise income tax threshold to 1.78 million yen.
-- cut consumption tax rate to 5 percent until a sustainable positive real wage growth is achieved.
Japanese Communist Party will:
-- cut consumption tax rate to 5 percent across the board and eventually scrap it.
-- halt raising taxes for defense buildup and end Japan's payment to cover the cost of hosting U.S. troops.
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