LDP, JIP Agree No Special Ward Requirement for “Deputy Capital”

Tokyo, March 31 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, agreed Tuesday that the establishment of special wards, like Tokyo’s 23 wards, will not be essential for the JIP-proposed “deputy capital” plan. The LDP and JIP reached the agreement at a working-level meeting on a draft outline of a bill to realize the plan to transfer some capital functions from Tokyo. They also confirmed that a prefecture with a major city will serve as a deputy capital. The draft outline said that the headquarters to promote the initiative will be set up and headed by the prime minister. The ruling parties aim to submit the bill to the ongoing parliamentary session to have it enacted by the end of the session in July. On Tuesday, working-level officials from both parties visited Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the prime minister’s office to present the draft outline. “We organized (the draft) so that a wide range of local governments other than Osaka can also take on the role (of a deputy capital),” JIP policy chief Alex Saito said after the meeting with Takaichi. The draft defines a deputy capital as a prefecture that would assume the functions of the Tokyo metropolitan area in the event of a disaster and serve as a core component of a “multipolar decentralized economic zone.” Under this system, the prime minister will designate a prefecture as a deputy capital based on offers from those that meet criteria such as hosting a central government branch office, having a certain level of economic activity and a sufficient population. Initially, the JIP proposed abolishing government-designated cities and establishing special wards as a requirement for a deputy capital. However, the LDP opposed this, arguing it would limit candidates to Osaka, the JIP’s stronghold. The draft states that the requirements can also be satisfied in cases where a system to eliminate double administration is in place, such as cooperation between an ordinance-designated city and a prefecture. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]