Latest news with #Diet
10 hours ago
- Business
Japan Parties Agree to Scrap Add-On Gasoline Levy by Year-End
News from Japan Politics Jul 30, 2025 15:13 (JST) Tokyo, July 30 (Jiji Press)--Japan's ruling and opposition parties agreed Wednesday to abolish the provisional add-on gasoline tax rate as early as possible this year. The agreement was reached at a meeting of parliamentary affairs chiefs of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner, Komeito, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), the Democratic Party for the People and the Japanese Communist Party in the opposition bloc. The parties aim to enact a bill to scrap the add-on tax rate at an extraordinary session of the Diet, Japan's parliament, expected to be convened in autumn. Based on the agreement, the ruling and opposition parties will set up a related forum of dialogue among their working-level officials during a separate extraordinary Diet session, set to start Friday. The parties will continue talks after the end of the session, focusing on issues such as finding an alternative source of revenue. After Wednesday's meeting, LDP Diet affairs chief Tetsushi Sakamoto told reporters that the parties hope to discuss and enact the legislation to scrap the add-on tax rate at the extra Diet session that is likely to be convened in autumn. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Japan Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Japan ruling party eyes plenary meeting amid rift over PM resignation
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a press conference at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party decided Tuesday to hold a plenary meeting of its parliamentary members soon, as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba insists on remaining in office despite calls from among his party to step down following a devastating national election loss. The joint plenary meeting of members of both houses of the Diet is one of the LDP's decision-making bodies. A similar gathering was held on Monday in a less formal setting where many members called on Ishiba, the LDP president, to step down. The upcoming gathering could put further pressure on Ishiba, who has stressed the need to avoid a political vacuum at a time when the nation is facing a host of challenges, including the imposition of U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports. "It all comes down to explaining myself carefully, sincerely and without running away," Ishiba said. LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama told reporters that details, such as the date and agenda of the meeting, have yet to be set. Asked whether a joint plenary meeting has the authority to call for a snap party leadership election, Moriyama said it would involve a "very complex" process. The gathering is designated as a forum to discuss and decide in a majority vote on "particularly important" matters regarding the party's management and Diet affairs, according to the party's rules. In an emergency situation, such as when the head of the LDP resigns during a presidential term, a joint plenary meeting can elect a new party chief, substituting for a party convention. Although the ruling bloc no longer holds a majority in either chamber of parliament, a newly elected LDP president would still have a chance of becoming prime minister as the party and its smaller coalition partner Komeito are the largest force in the more powerful House of Representatives. Some LDP members have been collecting signatures to urge the leadership to hold a formal plenary meeting in their bid to hold Ishiba accountable. On Monday, LDP lawmakers from both houses of parliament held a meeting with party executives to discuss the outcome of the recent election and vent their feelings toward the leadership. It lasted well over four hours. The LDP's internal wrangling is expected to continue at a busy time for the government. An extraordinary Diet session will begin on Friday to select the upper house's new president following the July 20 election, which resulted in the LDP-Komeito bloc losing its majority and smaller opposition parties, including rightwing populist party Sanseito, increasing their presence. Ishiba is scheduled to explain to parliament the details of a trade agreement recently reached between Japan and the United States. The Japanese prime minister will also attend ceremonies to mark the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as the end of World War II. By the end of August, the LDP is set to complete an internal review of the upper house election setback. Moriyama, the party's No.2 executive, has hinted at stepping down after the review. © KYODO
Asahi Shimbun
a day ago
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Saitama calls for temporary halt on visa waiver pact with Turkey
Saitama Governor Motohiro Ono speaks before Diet members elected from the prefecture during a meeting in Tokyo on July 28. (Masahide Miyajima) The governor of Saitama Prefecture requested a temporary suspension of the mutual visa waiver agreement between Japan and Turkey, indicating that crimes by Turkish nationals are causing anxiety among local residents. Governor Motohiro Ono made the request on July 28 at a meeting with Diet members representing the prefecture designed to convey the prefecture's national policy requests to the Diet. The visa waiver agreement allows Turkish and Japanese nationals to make short-term visits to each other's countries for tourism and other purposes without a visa. 'Some foreign nationals enter Japan under the visa waiver agreement and continue to stay by repeatedly applying for refugee status without valid grounds for being recognized,' Ono said. He said there have been cases in which such individuals commit crimes, spreading concern among residents. The prefecture called on the Diet members to 'carefully reconsider (the agreement) in light of the current situation and suspend it temporarily, if necessary.' In Saitama Prefecture, Kurds with a Turkish nationality, many of whom are seeking refugee status, have formed large communities in and around the cities of Kawaguchi and Warabi. According to the prefectural government, 31.1 percent of Turkish nationals residing in Japan live in Saitama Prefecture. In 2024, Turkish citizens made up the largest group, by nationality, of repeat applicants for refugee status, individuals denied refugee status and those provisionally released from detention at an immigration facility. After the meeting, Ono said, 'It's a fact that (some) Turkish nationals have repeatedly applied for refugee status and that (Turkish) people who cannot accept the situation are raising public concern.' (This article was written by Masahide Miyajima and Shun Nakamura.)
Kyodo News
a day ago
- Politics
- Kyodo News
Japan ruling party eyes plenary meeting amid rift over PM resignation
TOKYO - Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party decided Tuesday to hold a plenary meeting of its parliamentary members soon, as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba insists on remaining in office despite calls from among his party to step down following a devastating national election loss. The joint plenary meeting of members of both houses of the Diet is one of the LDP's decision-making bodies. A similar gathering was held on Monday in a less formal setting where many members called on Ishiba, the LDP president, to step down. The upcoming gathering could put further pressure on Ishiba, who has stressed the need to avoid a political vacuum at a time when the nation is facing a host of challenges, including the imposition of U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports. "It all comes down to explaining myself carefully, sincerely and without running away," Ishiba said. LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama told reporters that details, such as the date and agenda of the meeting, have yet to be set. Asked whether a joint plenary meeting has the authority to call for a snap party leadership election, Moriyama said it would involve a "very complex" process. The gathering is designated as a forum to discuss and decide in a majority vote on "particularly important" matters regarding the party's management and Diet affairs, according to the party's rules. In an emergency situation, such as when the head of the LDP resigns during a presidential term, a joint plenary meeting can elect a new party chief, substituting for a party convention. Although the ruling bloc no longer holds a majority in either chamber of parliament, a newly elected LDP president would still have a chance of becoming prime minister as the party and its smaller coalition partner Komeito are the largest force in the more powerful House of Representatives. Some LDP members have been collecting signatures to urge the leadership to hold a formal plenary meeting in their bid to hold Ishiba accountable. On Monday, LDP lawmakers from both houses of parliament held a meeting with party executives to discuss the outcome of the recent election and vent their feelings toward the leadership. It lasted well over four hours. The LDP's internal wrangling is expected to continue at a busy time for the government. An extraordinary Diet session will begin on Friday to select the upper house's new president following the July 20 election, which resulted in the LDP-Komeito bloc losing its majority and smaller opposition parties, including rightwing populist party Sanseito, increasing their presence. Ishiba is scheduled to explain to parliament the details of a trade agreement recently reached between Japan and the United States. The Japanese prime minister will also attend ceremonies to mark the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as the end of World War II. By the end of August, the LDP is set to complete an internal review of the upper house election setback. Moriyama, the party's No.2 executive, has hinted at stepping down after the review.
The Mainichi
a day ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Japan ruling party eyes plenary meeting amid rift over PM resignation
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party decided Tuesday to hold a plenary meeting of its parliamentary members soon, as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba insists on remaining in office despite calls from among his party to step down following a devastating national election loss. The joint plenary meeting of members of both houses of the Diet is one of the LDP's decision-making bodies. A similar gathering was held on Monday in a less formal setting where many members called on Ishiba, the LDP president, to step down. The upcoming gathering could put further pressure on Ishiba, who has stressed the need to avoid a political vacuum at a time when the nation is facing a host of challenges, including the imposition of U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports. "It all comes down to explaining myself carefully, sincerely and without running away," Ishiba said. LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama told reporters that details, such as the date and agenda of the meeting, have yet to be set. Asked whether a joint plenary meeting has the authority to call for a snap party leadership election, Moriyama said it would involve a "very complex" process. The gathering is designated as a forum to discuss and decide in a majority vote on "particularly important" matters regarding the party's management and Diet affairs, according to the party's rules. In an emergency situation, such as when the head of the LDP resigns during a presidential term, a joint plenary meeting can elect a new party chief, substituting for a party convention. Although the ruling bloc no longer holds a majority in either chamber of parliament, a newly elected LDP president would still have a chance of becoming prime minister as the party and its smaller coalition partner Komeito are the largest force in the more powerful House of Representatives. Some LDP members have been collecting signatures to urge the leadership to hold a formal plenary meeting in their bid to hold Ishiba accountable. On Monday, LDP lawmakers from both houses of parliament held a meeting with party executives to discuss the outcome of the recent election and vent their feelings toward the leadership. It lasted well over four hours. The LDP's internal wrangling is expected to continue at a busy time for the government. An extraordinary Diet session will begin on Friday to select the upper house's new president following the July 20 election, which resulted in the LDP-Komeito bloc losing its majority and smaller opposition parties, including rightwing populist party Sanseito, increasing their presence. Ishiba is scheduled to explain to parliament the details of a trade agreement recently reached between Japan and the United States. The Japanese prime minister will also attend ceremonies to mark the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as the end of World War II. By the end of August, the LDP is set to complete an internal review of the upper house election setback. Moriyama, the party's No.2 executive, has hinted at stepping down after the review.
