3 Japan Opposition Parties to Join National Council Wed.

Tokyo, March 24 (Jiji Press)–The Centrist Reform Alliance, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, all opposition parties, agreed Tuesday to join on Wednesday a recently launched suprapartisan forum to discuss consumption tax reductions and measures related to social security. The three parties are placing top priority on introducing a refundable tax credit system. The ruling coalition of Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party as well as the opposition parties, however, are hesitant to discuss financial resources to compensate for a proposed consumption tax reduction. The National Council on Social Security is scheduled to hold working-level talks Wednesday. The decision to join the council was made as the government has started work on putting together a stopgap budget, as demanded by the opposition camp, Centrist Reform Alliance Secretary-General Takeshi Shina told reporters after meeting with his counterparts and other officials from the CDP and Komeito. “A refundable tax credit system is our top priority,” Shina said. At the same time, he criticized the ruling coalition and the government, saying they “have not said that they will definitely cut the consumption tax on food.” Among opposition parties, only Team Mirai attended the council from the beginning, so the government and the LDP have asked more parties to join. The Democratic Party for the People took part in the council later. Still, discussions on alternative financial resources for a consumption tax cut and a refundable tax credit system have not progressed within the ruling and opposition parties. “Markets are closely watching their discussions, and it would be a problem if they only end up making irresponsible calls for spending,” an official of a ministry said. “Energy prices are expected to rise the most” amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, DPFP chief Yuichiro Tamaki said. “We need to carefully consider the significance of lowering the tax only on food.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]