Political News(2025/04/24)
Prime Minister Ishiba speaks by phone with Indian Prime Minister Modi: "We will work together in the fight against terrorism"
2025-04-24 23:15:00
Following the terrorist attack that occurred in the Kashmir region, an area disputed between India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Ishiba spoke with Indian Prime Minister Modi by telephone on the evening of the 24th, in which he resolutely condemned all acts of terrorism and conveyed his intention to work in cooperation with the international community to respond.
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LDP proposes the establishment of a "Disaster Prevention Agency" to "play a role in pre-disaster prevention"
2025-04-24 21:33:00
In preparation for the establishment of a Disaster Prevention Agency, the Liberal Democratic Party's Reinforcement Headquarters has compiled a draft proposal calling for the agency to play a role in "pre-disaster prevention," including taking measures against a variety of natural disasters such as earthquakes and large-scale fires, and formulating key policies in preparation for a massive earthquake in the Nankai Trough.
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Constitutional Democratic Party leaves handling of consumption tax in Upper House election pledges to leader Noda and others
2025-04-24 20:44:00
Regarding the handling of the consumption tax, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan decided at a meeting of its executive members to leave it up to Party leader Noda and Policy Research Council Chairman Shigenori to decide how to include the issue in its campaign pledges for the summer's House of Councillors election.
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LDP's Health, Labor and Welfare Committee to leave pension reform-related bill to its chairman
2025-04-24 20:31:00
On the 24th, the Liberal Democratic Party held a meeting of the Health, Labor and Welfare Committee to exchange opinions on the pension reform bill, the submission of which to the Diet has been postponed. There were no major objections to the contents of the bill, and it was decided to leave the future response to the chairman of the committee and proceed with the internal party procedures.
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Upper House LDP lawmakers' calls for lowering consumption tax rate should be reflected in campaign pledges
2025-04-24 19:56:00
Regarding measures to combat high prices, the Liberal Democratic Party in the House of Councillors conducted policy hearings with its members and reported to Secretary-General Moriyama that 80% of them called for a reduction in the consumption tax rate. The party then called for this to be reflected in the party's campaign pledges for the House of Councillors election this summer.
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Government to decide tomorrow on "emergency response package" proposal in response to U.S. tariff measures
2025-04-24 19:06:00
In response to the tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration in the United States, the government has put together a proposal for an "emergency response package" centered on supporting companies' cash flow and maintaining employment. The government plans to make a decision on the package at the National Response Headquarters on the 25th after coordination within the government.
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LDP's Aso and CDP leader Noda meet to discuss stable imperial succession
2025-04-24 18:54:00
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nukaga, held a meeting with the LDP's top adviser Taro Aso and the Constitutional Democratic Party leader, Noda, to discuss the stable Imperial succession. They are believed to have exchanged views on the preparation of a draft summary of the issue as a legislative body.
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Agriculture Minister Eto samples stockpiled rice harvested three years ago, appeals for proper management
2025-04-24 18:48:00
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Eto tasted some of the government's stockpiled rice harvested over the past three years and emphasized that the rice is being properly managed.
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Constitutional Democratic Party leader Noda: "We will take the consumption tax debate seriously and make a final decision"
2025-04-24 18:29:00
Regarding the handling of the consumption tax, Constitutional Democratic Party leader Noda stated at a meeting of party executives that he would like to take seriously the content of the internal party discussions to date and make a final decision on the party's policy.
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LDP apologizes for delay in submitting pension reform bill; CDP considers no-confidence motion
2025-04-24 18:01:00
The heads of the Diet affairs committees of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan met to discuss the handling of the pension reform bill. The Liberal Democratic Party apologized for the delay in submitting the bill to the Diet, while the Constitutional Democratic Party said it would consider submitting a motion of no confidence against Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Fukuoka if the deadline for submission is not made clear.
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LDP apologizes for delay in submitting pension reform bill; CDP considers no-confidence motion
2025-04-24 17:05:00
The heads of the Diet affairs committees of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan met to discuss the handling of the pension reform bill. The Liberal Democratic Party apologized for the delay in submitting the bill to the Diet, while the Constitutional Democratic Party said it would consider submitting a motion of no confidence against Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Fukuoka if the deadline for submission is not made clear.
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Two CDP study groups hold joint meeting: "Consumption tax cuts included in campaign pledges for House of Councillors election"
2025-04-24 16:24:00
Regarding the handling of the consumption tax, two study groups of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, which are calling for a reduction in the tax rate, held a joint meeting and confirmed their intention to work together to urge the executive branch to include a reduction in the consumption tax in their campaign pledges for the House of Councillors election this summer.
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Aichi Prefecture Governor and others ask Prime Minister Ishiba for support for Asian Games
2025-04-24 15:48:00
Regarding the Asian and Asian Para Games to be held mainly in Aichi Prefecture next year, Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura and members of a cross-party parliamentary group met with Prime Minister Ishiba and requested support for the success of the games.
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New bill to promote AI development and utilization passed by House of Representatives plenary session, heads to House of Councillors
2025-04-24 15:39:00
A new bill to promote research, development, and utilization of AI while addressing the risks posed by AI was passed by a majority vote of both the ruling and opposition parties in the House of Representatives on the 24th and sent to the House of Councillors.
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House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee Discusses Deadline for Convening Extraordinary Diet Session
2025-04-24 15:18:00
The House of Representatives' Constitutional Review Committee discussed the deadline for convening a special Diet session, with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) pointing out that past governments' failure to respond to opposition parties' requests to convene a session for a long period of time was a violation of the Constitution, and expressed the view that it would be desirable to set the deadline at within 20 days.
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Prime Minister Ishiba signs book of condolences following the death of Pope Francis
2025-04-24 15:16:00
Following the death of Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church, Prime Minister Ishiba visited the Apostolic Embassy in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward and signed the book of condolences.
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Komeito decides to recommend a previously unlisted lawmaker for the summer House of Councillors elections for the first time
2025-04-24 14:57:00
Ahead of the House of Councillors election this summer, the Komeito Party has decided, for the first time, to recommend a Liberal Democratic Party member who had not been included in the party's income and expenditure report due to a faction political funding issue.
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Prime Minister Ishiba meets with two US governors to convey his position calling for a review of tariff measures
2025-04-24 14:48:00
Prime Minister Ishiba met with two U.S. state governors and explained that huge investments from Japan are creating jobs in the United States, and conveyed Japan's position of strongly urging the Trump administration to review its tariff measures.
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The House of Representatives Management Committee unanimously approves regulations for research, public relations, and accommodation expenses
2025-04-24 14:39:00
Regarding the former correspondence expenses, now called "research, public relations and living expenses," the House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Administration unanimously passed regulations that limit the scope of use of these expenses to expenses necessary for parliamentary activities such as research and public relations, and require reports to be submitted to the Speaker.
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Bill to amend Whistleblower Protection Act passed by House of Representatives plenary session, heads to House of Councillors
2025-04-24 14:26:00
A bill to amend the Whistleblower Protection Act, which includes provisions for imposing criminal penalties on individuals or corporations that fire or discipline employees for reporting wrongdoing internally, was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives on the 24th and sent to the House of Councillors.
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First meeting to consider new "national vision" for LDP's 70th anniversary
2025-04-24 13:26:00
The Liberal Democratic Party held its first meeting to consider a new "national vision" to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the party's founding in November this year. The party will proceed with the formulation process by interviewing former party presidents, experts, and ordinary party members.
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Komeito leader Saito plans to explore the form of coalition government, including its framework
2025-04-24 12:58:00
Komeito leader Saito spoke with reporters in Beijing, China, where he was visiting, saying that under a minority ruling party, political energy is needed to reach an agreement including with the opposition parties, and expressed his intention to explore the form of a coalition government, including its framework, in the future.
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Government conveys plan for Minister of Economic Revitalization Akazawa to visit the U.S. from the end of this month regarding tariff measures
2025-04-24 12:44:00
Regarding the tariff measures taken by the Trump administration in the United States, the government has conveyed to the ruling party a plan for Minister for Economic Revitalization Akazawa to visit Washington for three days from the 30th of April and hold a second round of ministerial negotiations with Treasury Secretary Bessent and others. If arrangements are made with the US side, the second round of negotiations is expected to take place on May 1st, Japan time.
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Rengo urges Democratic Party for the People to quickly introduce optional separate surnames for married couples
2025-04-24 12:07:00
Regarding the introduction of optional separate surnames for married couples, Rengo Chairman Yoshino met with Democratic Party for the People Representative Tamaki and called for its early realization. In response, Tamaki expressed his intention to carefully advance discussions, stating that it is necessary to obtain broad agreement that transcends the ruling and opposition parties.
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Komeito leader Saito plans to explore the form of coalition government, including its framework
2025-04-24 11:46:00
Komeito leader Saito spoke with reporters in Beijing, China, where he was visiting, saying that under a minority ruling party, political energy is needed to reach an agreement including with the opposition parties, and expressed his intention to explore the form of a coalition government, including its framework, in the future.
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Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities April 23, 2025
2025-04-24 10:27:00
(Prime Minister Ishiba's Activities April 23, 2025)
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Government conveys plan for Minister of Economic Revitalization Akazawa to visit the U.S. from the end of this month regarding tariff measures
2025-04-24 10:09:00
Regarding the tariff measures taken by the Trump administration in the United States, the government has conveyed to the ruling party a plan for Minister for Economic Revitalization Akazawa to visit Washington for three days from the 30th of this month and hold a second round of ministerial negotiations with Treasury Secretary Bessent and others. If arrangements are made with the US side, the second round of negotiations is expected to take place on the 1st of next month Japan time.
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U.S. Minister of Economic Revitalization strongly urges tariff review: "We cannot give special treatment"
2025-04-24 05:34:00
In the ministerial negotiations following the tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration in the United States, Minister for Economic Revitalization Akazawa strongly requested a review of tariffs on automobiles, steel, etc., but it was revealed that the US side expressed a negative view, saying, "We cannot give special treatment only to Japan." Minister Akazawa intends to strongly request this again in the next negotiations, and to confirm that it will be a subject of discussion.
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