Political News(2025/03/28)
LDP: "Agreement difficult" over corporate and group donations, deliberations to end at end of this month
2025-03-28 22:05:00
Regarding the handling of corporate and group donations, the Liberal Democratic Party argued in a special committee of the House of Representatives that, given that it will be difficult to reach an agreement on the bill currently submitted, deliberations should be concluded at the end of this month, and indicated its intention to explore alternative proposals through discussions with the Komeito Party and the Democratic Party for the People.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "To promote the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, we must thoroughly pass on the costs of public works projects"
2025-03-28 20:51:00
In order to promote the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, Prime Minister Ishiba stated his intention to thoroughly pass on price increases in transactions related to public works, as well as to work toward promoting business succession and M&A in a planned manner.
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Upper House Budget Committee intensively discusses measures to combat rising prices and tourism policies
2025-03-28 20:25:00
In the Diet, intensive deliberations were held in the House of Councillors Budget Committee, with debate taking place over measures to combat rising prices, tourism policy, and increasing defense spending.
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LDP: "Agreement difficult" over corporate and group donations, deliberations to end at end of this month
2025-03-28 19:28:00
Regarding the handling of corporate and group donations, the Liberal Democratic Party argued in a special committee of the House of Representatives that, given that it will be difficult to reach an agreement on the bill currently submitted, deliberations should be concluded at the end of this month, and indicated its intention to explore alternative proposals through discussions with the Komeito Party and the Democratic Party for the People.
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The House of Councillors Budget Committee unanimously voted to invite Mr. Seko as a witness.
2025-03-28 17:41:00
Regarding the issue of politics and money, the House of Councillors Budget Committee unanimously passed a resolution to invite former House of Councillors Secretary-General Seko, a former senior member of the Liberal Democratic Party's Abe faction, as an expert witness.
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The Ministry of Justice asks the Legislative Council to consider amending the law to review the retrial system
2025-03-28 17:31:00
On the 28th, the Ministry of Justice consulted the Legislative Council on considering amending the law to revise the system of retrials, which allow for trials to be restarted, as it has been criticized for prolonging proceedings.
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Tokyo's new fiscal year budget passed: General account total of 9.158 trillion yen, the largest ever
2025-03-28 17:27:00
Tokyo's new fiscal year budget, with a general account total of 9.158 trillion yen, the largest ever, was passed and enacted at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly plenary session, and child-rearing support initiatives such as free childcare fees for the first child and subsidies for "painless childbirth" will be implemented.
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Upper House Budget Committee intensively discusses measures to combat rising prices and tourism policies
2025-03-28 17:26:00
In the Diet, intensive deliberations were held in the House of Councillors Budget Committee, with debate taking place over measures to combat rising prices, tourism policy, and increasing defense spending.
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New fiscal year budget bill expected to be enacted within the fiscal year, LDP and CDP agree to vote on 31st
2025-03-28 17:20:00
Regarding the new fiscal year budget bill, which is currently under deliberation in the House of Councillors, the chairpersons of the House of Councillors Diet Affairs Committee of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan met and agreed to revise it again and put it to a vote on the 31st. The revised budget bill will be returned to the House of Representatives on the same day for approval, and is expected to be enacted within the fiscal year.
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New fiscal year budget proposal to be revised and voted on on the 31st, expected to be enacted within the fiscal year
2025-03-28 16:20:00
Regarding the new fiscal year budget bill, which is currently under deliberation in the House of Councillors, the chairpersons of the House of Councillors Diet Affairs Committee of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan met and agreed to revise it again and put it to a vote on the 31st. The revised budget bill will be returned to the House of Representatives on the same day and is expected to be passed within the fiscal year after gaining approval.
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New fiscal year budget bill to be voted on on the 31st, increasing likelihood of passage within the fiscal year
2025-03-28 15:10:00
The new fiscal year budget bill, which is currently under deliberation in the House of Councillors, is likely to be passed within the fiscal year, with the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan planning to revise it again and hold a vote on it on the 31st of next week. Meanwhile, the two parties agreed that it is necessary to call in former Secretary-General of the House of Councillors Seko, a former LDP leader in the Abe faction, as a witness on the issue of politics and money.
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Justice Minister Suzuki apologizes and retracts remarks about "suit tailoring vouchers for opposition lawmakers"
2025-03-28 14:59:00
Regarding the issue of the distribution of gift certificates, Justice Minister Suzuki apologized and retracted a comment he made in a Diet response in which he mentioned the possibility that suit tailoring vouchers had been distributed to opposition lawmakers in the past, after it was pointed out that the comment was inappropriate.
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"Active Cyber Defense" Bill to be Questioned by Expert at House of Representatives Cabinet Committee
2025-03-28 14:52:00
Regarding a bill aimed at introducing "active cyber defense" to prevent cyber attacks before they occur, expert witnesses were questioned at the House of Representatives Cabinet Committee, and opinions were exchanged regarding the bill's effectiveness and challenges.
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Discussions continue based on outline of bill to strengthen regulations on corporate and group donations
2025-03-28 14:29:00
Regarding the treatment of corporate and group donations, political reform practitioners from the three parties - the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, and the Democratic Party for the People - met and confirmed that they would continue discussions after April based on the outline of a bill previously put together by Komeito and the Democratic Party for the People to strengthen regulations rather than ban them.
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New fiscal year budget bill to be voted on on the 31st, increasing likelihood of passage within the fiscal year
2025-03-28 14:06:00
The new fiscal year budget bill, which is currently under deliberation in the House of Councillors, is likely to be passed within the fiscal year, with the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan planning to revise it again and hold a vote on it on the 31st of next week. Meanwhile, the two parties agreed that it is necessary to call in former Secretary-General of the House of Councillors Seko, a former LDP leader in the Abe faction, as a witness on the issue of politics and money.
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The House of Councillors Budget Committee unanimously voted to invite Mr. Seko as a witness.
2025-03-28 14:01:00
Regarding the issue of politics and money, the House of Councillors Budget Committee unanimously passed a resolution to invite former House of Councillors Secretary-General Seko, a former senior member of the Liberal Democratic Party's Abe faction, as an expert witness.
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Discussions continue based on outline of bill to strengthen regulations on corporate and group donations
2025-03-28 13:27:00
Regarding the treatment of corporate and group donations, political reform practitioners from the three parties - the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, and the Democratic Party for the People - met and confirmed that they would continue discussions after April based on the outline of a bill previously put together by Komeito and the Democratic Party for the People to strengthen regulations rather than ban them.
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New fiscal year budget bill to be voted on on the 31st, increasing likelihood of passage within the fiscal year
2025-03-28 13:17:00
The new fiscal year budget bill, which is currently under deliberation in the House of Councillors, is likely to be passed within the fiscal year, with the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan planning to revise it again and hold a vote on it on the 31st of next week. Meanwhile, the two parties agreed that it is necessary to call in former Secretary-General of the House of Councillors Seko, a former LDP leader in the Abe faction, as a witness on the issue of politics and money.
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Discussions continue based on outline of bill to strengthen regulations on corporate and group donations
2025-03-28 12:39:00
Regarding the treatment of corporate and group donations, political reform practitioners from the three parties - the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, and the Democratic Party for the People - met and confirmed that they would continue discussions after April based on the outline of a bill previously put together by Komeito and the Democratic Party for the People to strengthen regulations rather than ban them.
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New fiscal year budget bill to be voted on on the 31st, increasing likelihood of passage within the fiscal year
2025-03-28 11:57:00
Regarding the new fiscal year budget bill, which is currently under deliberation in the House of Councillors, the senior members of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan met and agreed to revising it and putting it to a vote on the 31st of next week. The revised budget bill will be returned to the House of Representatives on the same day and will likely be passed within the fiscal year.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "I want to examine the effects of consumption tax cuts and examples from other countries"
2025-03-28 11:54:00
The House of Councillors Budget Committee held an intensive deliberations on measures to combat rising prices. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan called for a consumption tax cut limited to food items, as is done overseas. Prime Minister Ishiba, on the other hand, expressed his intention to examine examples from other countries to see what kind of effect such a cut would have.
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Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Yata Wakako to resign on the 31st of this month
2025-03-28 11:51:00
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister in charge of wage increases and employment, Wakako Yata, will step down on the 31st of this month.
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New fiscal year budget proposal undergoes final adjustments to pass within the fiscal year; handling of donations difficult
2025-03-28 10:08:00
The new fiscal year budget bill, currently under deliberation in the House of Councillors, will not be passed on the 28th, but the ruling party wants to ensure that it is passed by the end of the fiscal year on the 31st, and is continuing to make final adjustments with the opposition parties. On the other hand, the difference in opinion between the ruling and opposition parties regarding the treatment of corporate and group donations has not been bridged, making it difficult to reach an agreement by the deadline of the end of the fiscal year.
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Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities March 27, 2025
2025-03-28 08:40:00
(March 27, 2025)
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Government begins review of efficient data center development to meet growing demand
2025-03-28 06:27:00
Demand for data centers is increasing due to the spread of generative AI, and the government has begun considering ways to efficiently develop data centers, including electricity and communications infrastructure.
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New fiscal year budget proposal undergoes final adjustments to pass within the fiscal year; handling of donations difficult
2025-03-28 05:11:00
The new fiscal year budget bill, currently under deliberation in the House of Councillors, will not be passed on the 28th, but the ruling party wants to ensure that it is passed by the end of the fiscal year on the 31st, and is continuing to make final adjustments with the opposition parties. On the other hand, the difference in opinion between the ruling and opposition parties regarding the treatment of corporate and group donations has not been bridged, making it difficult to reach an agreement by the deadline of the end of the fiscal year.
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Government to persistently lobby for exemption from 25% US auto tariffs
2025-03-28 05:03:00
Following U.S. President Trump's official announcement that he would impose an additional 25% tariff on imported cars and other items, the government will persistently lobby to have Japan excluded from the tariffs, while also closely examining the impact on the automobile industry and taking all necessary measures, such as providing financial support to parts manufacturers.
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Corporate and group donations: LDP's Koizumi: "Discussion continues at LDP-Komeito working-level meeting"
2025-03-28 00:10:00
Regarding the treatment of corporate and group donations, Junichiro Koizumi, the LDP's former election campaign committee chairman in charge of political reform, has begun working-level discussions with the Komeito Party and the Democratic Party for the People, which have outlined a bill that would strengthen regulations rather than ban them, and has indicated his intention to continue the discussions beyond next month.
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