Japan’s Takaichi Vows to Soon Submit Consumption Tax Cut Bill

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that her administration will shortly submit to parliament a bill proposing a consumption tax cut on food products. At a press conference after an extended session of the Diet, the country’s parliament, ended on Saturday, Takaichi said that she hopes the suprapartisan National Council on Social Security will quickly conclude its discussions on the proposed tax cut. “We hope to submit a bill swiftly after the council reaches a conclusion, so that people will feel the effects of reduced burdens as soon as possible,” she said. Asked about a call from opposition parties to provide cash benefits instead of the tax cut, the prime minister said that she would not make a decision on the matter before the council ends its discussions. Also at the press conference, the prime minister said that her ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s relationship of trust with its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, “is unshakable.” At the Diet session, the ruling camp gave up on passing a signature bill by the JIP to reduce the number of seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet. “We’ll make efforts to realize the policy pledges made by the administration and under the coalition agreement,” Takaichi said. She expressed hopes for the passage of the bill during an extraordinary Diet session expected to be held in autumn. While the ruling camp has faced criticism over its use of its numerical strength in Diet management, the prime minister said, “We’ve worked hard to realize as many of our policy pledges as possible.” She added that there was “nothing in particular” to reflect on. Meanwhile, Takaichi stopped short of making detailed comments on the possibility of the opposition Democratic Party for the People joining the coalition, which has been sought by some LDP members. “It depends on what (the DPFP) want.” The prime minister declined to comment on whether to reshuffle her cabinet or LDP executive team, saying, “I have nothing to say at this point.” She called fiscal 2027, which begins next April, “the first year of responsible yet aggressive fiscal policy.” On the omission of the term “fiscal consolidation” from the latest Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform, she said, “The important thing is to show in detail how we’ll realize fiscal sustainability.” Expressing hopes to establish an external intelligence agency and develop laws against espionage, she said that Japan will consider such matters while also taking into account people’s freedoms and human rights. Asked about possible talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting to be held in China in November, Takaichi said, “I look forward to the APEC summit.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]