Political News(2025/02/20)
LDP's Koizumi: "If there are major policy changes due to the demand for national restoration, we should ask about joining the coalition"
2025-02-20 22:05:00
Regarding revisions to the new fiscal year budget proposal, LDP member Shinjiro Koizumi expressed the view that if major policy changes are made in response to the demands of the Japan Restoration Party and the Democratic Party for the People, both parties would need to share responsibility for the implementation of those changes, and that they should be called on to join a coalition government.
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LDP, Komeito and Nippon Ishin no Yaiba largely confirm direction of free education; remaining point of discussion is social insurance premiums
2025-02-20 21:37:00
Policy leaders from the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party and the Japan Restoration Party met twice on the 20th to discuss amendments to the new fiscal year budget. In order to finalize an agreement document, they largely confirmed the direction of free education, and are continuing to finalize the remaining point of discussion, the reduction of social insurance premiums, and are scheduled to meet again in the morning of the 21st.
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Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare considers subsidies for companies to prevent reduction in take-home pay due to "1.3 million yen annual income barrier"
2025-02-20 21:12:00
In response to the so-called "1.3 million yen annual income barrier," the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is considering providing subsidies of up to 750,000 yen per person to companies that take measures to ensure that employees' take-home pay does not decrease even if their annual income exceeds a certain level.
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New fiscal year budget proposal: LDP, Komeito, and Nippon Ishin no Kabushiki Gaisha largely confirm direction of free education
2025-02-20 21:08:00
The policy chiefs of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party met to discuss revisions to the new fiscal year budget. In order to finalize the agreement document, they largely confirmed the direction of free education, and are continuing to finalize the remaining issue of reducing the burden of social insurance premiums. The three parties are scheduled to meet again in the morning of the 21st.
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Prime Minister Ishiba orders introduction of digital technology for water and sewer leak detection within about three years
2025-02-20 20:12:00
In response to the large-scale road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed relevant cabinet ministers to introduce digital technologies, such as the use of satellites and drones to detect water and sewer leaks, nationwide within around three years.
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Minister Mihara to strengthen measures to combat elderly isolation: "Direction to be set around summer"
2025-02-20 20:10:00
In order to strengthen measures to address loneliness and isolation among the elderly, the government held the first meeting of a working group of experts, and Minister Mihara asked for consideration, saying he would like to summarize the direction of the effort around summer this year, including creating a place for the elderly in society.
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New fiscal year budget proposal: LDP, Komeito, and Nippon Ishin no Kabushiki Gaisha largely confirm direction of free education
2025-02-20 20:06:00
Policy leaders from the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party met to discuss amendments to the new fiscal year budget. In order to finalize an agreement document, they confirmed the direction of free education and are continuing to finalize the remaining issue of reducing social insurance premiums.
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LDP celebrates 70th anniversary since founding Prime Minister Ishiba says "I want to build momentum for constitutional reform"
2025-02-20 20:00:00
At the LDP's Constitutional Revision Realization Headquarters, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the party's founding, and that he wants to increase momentum toward revision through discussions in the Diet's Constitutional Review Committee.
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Prime Minister Ishiba meets with families of abduction victims, "exploring all possibilities"
2025-02-20 19:44:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with the families of victims abducted by North Korea and stated that he had received President Trump's full support for resolving the issue at the recent Japan-U.S. summit meeting. He then emphasized his determination to explore all possibilities and make every effort to bring all victims home.
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New fiscal year budget proposal: LDP, Komeito, and Nippon Ishin no Kabushiki Gaisha largely confirm direction of free education
2025-02-20 18:58:00
Policy leaders from the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party met to discuss amendments to the new fiscal year budget. In order to finalize an agreement document, they confirmed the direction of free education and are continuing to finalize the remaining issue of reducing social insurance premiums.
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Public Offices Election Law Revision Bill: Experts Questioned: Opinion expressed on preventing "two horsepower" elections
2025-02-20 18:28:00
A special committee of the House of Representatives questioned expert witnesses regarding a proposed amendment to the Public Offices Election Act, and opinions were expressed calling for measures to be taken to prevent a situation known as "two-horsepower," in which a candidate who has no intention of winning supports another candidate.
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CDP repeatedly calls for complete freeze on raising the ceiling on high-cost medical care expenses system
2025-02-20 17:09:00
At the House of Representatives Budget Committee, which is deliberating on the new fiscal year budget proposal, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan repeatedly called for a complete freeze on any increases to the upper limit of the "high-cost medical care system." In response, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Fukuoka asked for understanding for his decision to revise his initial policy to keep the burden on patients who will continue treatment for the long term unchanged.
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New fiscal year budget proposal: LDP, Komeito, and Nippon Ishin no Kabushiki Gaisha largely confirm direction of free education
2025-02-20 17:05:00
Policy leaders from the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party met to discuss amendments to the new fiscal year budget. In order to finalize an agreement document, they confirmed the direction of free education and are continuing to finalize the remaining issue of reducing social insurance premiums.
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[Commentary] The growing presence of "Shadow President" Elon Musk
2025-02-20 16:24:00
Despite being a businessman, Elon Musk has become a close aide to President Trump, and his presence has grown to the point that he is referred to as the "shadow president." He has been making moves that could be seen as aggressive, including major government restructuring, cost cutting, and criticism of European governments. What is Musk aiming for? Where is he heading? Member Iida Kaori, who has been covering Musk since 2010, provides a detailed explanation. *Information current as of February 20th. (Video: 8 minutes 21 seconds)
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Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto to meet with US Secretary of Commerce as early as March to request tariff exemption
2025-02-20 15:56:00
It has been learned that Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto is making arrangements to visit the United States as early as next month to meet with Secretary of Commerce Rutnick, who is in charge of leading tariff and trade policy in the Trump administration. In addition to directly requesting that Japan be excluded from the measures imposing high tariffs on steel and aluminum products, the two are also expected to discuss automobile tariffs and other issues.
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New fiscal year budget proposal: LDP, Komeito, and Nippon Ishin no Kabushiki Gaisha largely confirm direction of free education
2025-02-20 15:46:00
Policy leaders from the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party met to discuss amendments to the new fiscal year budget. In order to finalize an agreement document, they confirmed the direction of free education and are continuing to finalize the remaining issue of reducing social insurance premiums.
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LDP, Komeito and Nippon Ishin no Kai agree on new fiscal year budget proposal as final adjustments continue
2025-02-20 15:14:00
The Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party are finalizing their negotiations to finalize an agreement document on the revision of the new fiscal year budget. However, the Japan Restoration Party has raised objections that the content regarding the reduction of social insurance premiums is insufficient, so the three parties have decided to continue their discussions on the 20th.
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LDP, Komeito and Nippon Ishin no Kai agree on new fiscal year budget proposal as final adjustments continue
2025-02-20 14:15:00
The Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party are finalizing their negotiations to finalize an agreement document on the revision of the new fiscal year budget. However, the Japan Restoration Party has raised objections that the content regarding the reduction of social insurance premiums is insufficient, so the three parties have decided to continue their discussions on the 20th.
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Prime Minister Ishiba meets with Saitama Governor to "continue to consider measures to combat aging infrastructure"
2025-02-20 13:39:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with Saitama Governor Ohno and conveyed his intention to support the restoration of the site following the large-scale road collapse in Yashio City, as well as to proceed with consideration of measures to address the deterioration of the entire infrastructure.
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LDP, Komeito and Nippon Ishin no Kai agree on new fiscal year budget proposal as final adjustments continue
2025-02-20 12:12:00
The Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party are finalizing their negotiations to finalize an agreement document on the revision of the new fiscal year budget. However, the Japan Restoration Party has raised objections that the content regarding the reduction of social insurance premiums is insufficient, so the three parties have decided to continue their discussions on the 20th.
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Prime Minister Ishiba orders review of measures to deal with aging infrastructure following Yashio Road collapse
2025-02-20 12:11:00
Following the large-scale road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Nakano to expedite an investigation into the cause and to proceed with consideration of measures to address the deterioration of the entire infrastructure.
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Seven ruling and opposition parties submit bill to amend the Public Election Law to the House of Representatives, adding "two horsepower" provision in appendix
2025-02-20 11:32:00
Seven ruling and opposition parties have submitted a bill to amend the Public Offices Election Act to the House of Representatives to prohibit the inclusion of content that damages dignity in election posters. The supplementary provisions include provisions that state that necessary measures will be taken to ensure fairness, taking into account the situation known as "two-horsepower," in which a candidate who has no intention of winning supports another candidate.
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Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities February 19, 2025
2025-02-20 09:56:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities, February 19, 2025) 05:27 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tachibana Keiichiro at the official residence (until 07:35) 07:39 Left the official residence on foot 07:41 Arrived at the official residence 08:46 Left the official residence 08:48 Arrived at the National Diet 08:50 Entered the House of Representatives No. 1 Committee Room 08:52 Spoke with LDP member of the House of Representatives Tani Koichi (until 08:53) 08:54 Spoke with LDP member of the House of Representatives Ito Tatsuya (until 08:55) 08:59 Spoke with Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu and CDP Chief Deputy Chair of the National Diet Affairs Committee Yamai Kazunori (until 09:04) 09:05 Spoke with Finance Minister Kato (until 09:07) 09:08 Spoke with LDP member of the House of Representatives Yamashita Takashi (until 09:09) 09:10 Left the committee room 09:12 Enter Minister's Office 11:25 Leave room 11:26 Leave Diet 11:28 Arrive at Prime Minister's Office 12:57 Leave Prime Minister's Office 12:58 Arrive at Prime Minister's Office 12:59 Enter Minister's Office 16:04 Leave room 16:05 Leave Diet 16:07 Arrive at Prime Minister's Office 17:10 Met with Director-General of National Security Secretariat Okano Masataka, Cabinet Intelligence Director Hara Kazuya, Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Foreign Policy Bureau Kawabe Masahiro, Director-General of the Ministry of Defense's Defense Policy Bureau Yamato Taro, and Vice Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Nagumo Kenichiro (until 17:32) 18:03 Courtesy call from participants of the Ship for World Youth Program (until 18:20) 18:22 Monthly Economic Report-related Ministerial Meeting (until 18:38) 18:40 Met with LDP Secretary-General Moriyama Yutaka (until 18:56) 19:20 Leave Prime Minister's Office on foot 19:21 Arrive at Prime Minister's Office 19:22 Dinner with Minister of State for Economic Revitalization Akimasa Akazawa, the LDP's Itsunori Onodera, and the Komeito's Policy Research Council Chairman Mitsunari Okamoto (until 21:05)
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LDP, Komeito and Nippon Ishin make final adjustments to finalize agreement document
2025-02-20 06:49:00
The Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party are finalizing their negotiations to finalize an agreement document on the revision of the new fiscal year budget. However, the Japan Restoration Party has raised objections that the content regarding the reduction of social insurance premiums is insufficient, so the three parties have decided to continue their discussions on the 20th.
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