2024-12-11 21:27:00
Amid continuing political turmoil in South Korea, Foreign Minister Iwao spoke with Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yol by telephone on the evening of the 11th and confirmed his recognition that the importance of Japan-South Korea relations will not change, regardless of the situation.
2024-12-11 20:49:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with members of the Council of Experts on Realizing Regional Revitalization and, emphasizing the importance of creating regions where young people and women can settle, requested that they inspect various cases and propose necessary measures.
2024-12-11 20:41:00
Senior officials from Japan, the United States, and South Korea held talks toward realizing a "free and open Indo-Pacific." They exchanged views on regional situations, including the progress of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, and confirmed that they would deepen cooperation in a wide range of areas, including maritime and economic security.
2024-12-11 19:41:00
As discussions toward the formulation of a new Basic Energy Plan are reaching a climax, it has been learned that the government is making final adjustments to remove the phrase "reducing dependence on" nuclear power, which is included in the current plan.
2024-12-11 19:40:00
Regarding the public interest report by a former senior official of Hyogo Prefecture on suspicion of power harassment by Governor Saito, the prefecture announced the results of an internal investigation on the 11th, stating that "we have not been able to confirm that power harassment occurred." Based on this, the prefecture announced corrective measures, such as setting up an external reporting system starting next week.
2024-12-11 19:34:00
Regarding measures against illegal part-time jobs, the Liberal Democratic Party has submitted a proposal to Prime Minister Ishiba calling for the introduction of "fictitious identity investigations," in which investigators would apply for part-time jobs using fictitious identification documents and contact criminal groups.
2024-12-11 19:25:00
Regarding the issue of politics and money, the Liberal Democratic Party has informed the Constitutional Democratic Party that more than 10 lawmakers whose names were not included in the income and expenditure report have expressed their intention to attend the House of Representatives Political Ethics Review Committee, and that they are expected to make a formal request by the 12th.
2024-12-11 19:10:00
The secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and the Democratic Party for the People met and signed a memorandum of understanding to realize the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" requested by the Democratic Party for the People. The Democratic Party for the People indicated its intention to support this year's supplementary budget bill, and the budget bill is expected to be passed by a majority vote in the House of Representatives.
2024-12-11 18:53:00
It has been learned through interviews with people involved that the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Liberal Democratic Party, a political group of the Liberal Democratic Party faction in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, is conducting an investigation into the allegations that income raised by Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly members in excess of sales quotas at a political fundraising party held by the party was not reported in the political fundraising income and expenditure report.
2024-12-11 18:48:00
On the 11th, the House of Representatives Budget Committee held a debate, and the opposition parties questioned the LDP's plan to establish a new category of "disclosure method devised expenditures" in the revision of the Political Funds Control Law, saying that doubts would arise if politicians were to decide on the targets. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized that a third-party organization would make the strict judgment and that politicians would not be allowed to make arbitrary decisions.
2024-12-11 18:39:00
Regarding the public interest report by a former senior official of Hyogo Prefecture on suspicion of power harassment by Governor Saito, the prefecture announced the results of an internal investigation on the 11th, stating that "we have not been able to confirm that power harassment occurred." Based on this, the prefecture announced corrective measures, such as setting up an external reporting system starting next week.
2024-12-11 18:20:00
Amid continuing political turmoil in South Korea, the Japan-Korea Parliamentary Friendship League held a meeting, and LDP Vice President Suga, who serves as the league's chairman, stated his intention to continue to place emphasis on parliamentary diplomacy, stating that stability in Japan-South Korea relations is essential given the severe security environment.
2024-12-11 18:19:00
The secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and the Democratic Party for the People met and signed a memorandum of understanding to realize the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" requested by the Democratic Party for the People. The Democratic Party for the People indicated its intention to support this year's supplementary budget bill, and the budget bill is expected to be passed by a majority vote in the House of Representatives.
2024-12-11 18:14:00
As discussions toward the formulation of a new Basic Energy Plan are reaching a climax, it has been learned that the government is making final adjustments to remove the phrase "reducing dependence on" nuclear power, which is included in the current plan.
2024-12-11 18:12:00
Regarding this year's supplementary budget, the Japan Restoration Party has put together its own emergency economic measures, including expanding the restoration and reconstruction costs for the Noto Peninsula, claiming that the government's proposal is insufficient. The party plans to submit a motion to reorganize the budget to reflect the contents of the measures on the 12th.
2024-12-11 18:08:00
Regarding the public interest report by a former senior official of Hyogo Prefecture on suspicion of power harassment by Governor Saito, the prefecture announced the results of an internal investigation on the 11th, stating that "we have not been able to confirm that power harassment occurred." Based on this, the prefecture announced corrective measures, such as setting up an external reporting system starting next week.
2024-12-11 17:25:00
Regarding this year's supplementary budget proposal, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has submitted an amendment to the Diet that would reduce the government's contribution by more than 1.36 trillion yen, citing high spending on "funds" that are of low urgency, while also strengthening support for the disaster-stricken areas of the Noto Peninsula.
2024-12-11 17:01:00
The secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and the Democratic Party for the People met and signed a memorandum of understanding to realize the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" requested by the Democratic Party for the People. The Democratic Party for the People indicated its intention to support this year's supplementary budget bill, and the budget bill is expected to be passed by a majority vote in the House of Representatives.
2024-12-11 16:31:00
A ruling and opposition party council was held in the House of Representatives to discuss the former correspondence expenses and the current "research, study and public relations living expenses," and all parties broadly agreed to a proposed amendment to the Revenue Expenses Law, which would require the disclosure of how the expenses are used every year and the return of any remaining amounts.
2024-12-11 15:48:00
In preparation for further revisions to the Political Funds Control Act, a special committee of the House of Representatives was held, and explanations were given of the purpose of nine bills submitted by both the ruling and opposition parties, including a bill to abolish "policy activity expenses" and a bill that includes a ban on donations from companies and organizations.
2024-12-11 15:09:00
Regarding tax increases to secure defense funding, the government and ruling parties have decided to proceed with a proposal to implement corporate taxes from April 2026 and income taxes from January 2027. The proposed tax increases are called a "special defense corporate tax" and a "special defense income tax," respectively.
2024-12-11 14:58:00
Regarding the "special dependent deduction" that reduces income tax for households with university students and other dependents, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito presented a proposal to raise the annual income requirement from the current 1.03 million yen to 1.3 million yen in tax system negotiations with the Democratic Party for the People. The Democratic Party for the People requested an increase to 1.5 million yen or more, and no compromise was reached, so it was decided to hold another round of negotiations on the 13th.
2024-12-11 14:12:00
Regarding the "special dependent deduction" that reduces income tax for households with university students and other dependents, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito presented a proposal to raise the annual income requirement from the current 1.03 million yen to 1.3 million yen in tax system negotiations with the Democratic Party for the People. The Democratic Party for the People requested an increase to 1.5 million yen or more, and no compromise was reached, so it was decided to hold another round of negotiations on the 13th.
2024-12-11 12:19:00
The Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Democratic Party for the People held their fourth tax consultation regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier." It is believed that they exchanged opinions on the extent to which the annual income requirement for the "special dependent deduction," which reduces the income tax for households supporting university students and other dependents, should be raised.
2024-12-11 12:04:00
The Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Democratic Party for the People held their fourth tax consultation regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier." It is believed that they exchanged opinions on the extent to which the annual income requirement for the "special dependent deduction," which reduces the income tax for households supporting university students and other dependents, should be raised.
2024-12-11 12:00:00
At the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Prime Minister Ishiba indicated his intention to continue considering whether to participate as an observer in the Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to be held next year, including by reviewing the minutes of the meetings.
2024-12-11 10:51:00
Regarding this year's supplementary budget proposal, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has submitted an amendment to the Diet that would reduce the government's contribution by more than 1.36 trillion yen, citing high spending on "funds" that are of low urgency, while also strengthening support for the disaster-stricken areas of the Noto Peninsula.
2024-12-11 09:53:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities December 10, 2024)
2024-12-11 06:50:00
The ruling coalition is aiming to pass this year's supplementary budget, which will underpin the new economic measures, in the House of Representatives by the 12th. In response, the Constitutional Democratic Party is considering submitting an amendment, while the Democratic Party for the People has indicated that it may not approve the budget if there is no progress in tax negotiations with the ruling party, and the ruling and opposition parties are becoming more active with an eye on the vote.
