Japan's parties agree to open Lower House debate on food tax cut bill on 20 October
In short
The Liberal Democratic Party and the Lower House group Chudo agreed on 16 October to open plenary debate on the food consumption tax cut bill on 20 October, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attending. The ruling side had first proposed that date on 14 October, and the opposition declined, saying the full picture of the bill was unclear.
Read the full story 2 min read
The Liberal Democratic Party and the Lower House group Chudo (中道) agreed on 16 October to open Lower House plenary debate on the bill linked to a consumption tax cut on food on 20 October, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attending. Tokyo Shimbun, citing Kyodo, reported that Hideki Murai (村井英樹), the LDP's Diet affairs chief, and Yuichi Goto (後藤祐一), Chudo's Diet affairs chief, met in the Diet and agreed, and that the two told reporters about it. [ 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
According to Jiji, the 20 October plenary session will hear an explanation of the bill's purpose and questions. Jiji said Chudo and other opposition parties had asked for Takaichi's attendance and the LDP accepted. The opposition is also asking for the prime minister to attend part of the committee questioning, and Tokyo Shimbun said it wants witness questioning as well. Jiji quoted Murai as telling reporters that the LDP would do its utmost to pass all the bills it has submitted during the limited session. [ 6 , 7 ]
Tokyo Shimbun said the bill cuts the consumption tax rate on food and drink from 8% to 1% for two years only, and called it the government's most important bill of the current Diet session. It said the ruling side plans to send the bill to the Upper House as early as the first half of November. Jiji said the government and ruling parties treat it as the top task of the extraordinary Diet session and want it through the Lower House in early November. [ 6 , 7 ]
The agreement followed a first attempt on 14 October. At a Lower House steering committee directors' meeting, the ruling side proposed opening the plenary debate on 20 October. The opposition did not agree, saying the whole picture of the bill was unclear, including the income-linked benefit system that would be introduced together with the tax cut, Sankei and TBS reported. TBS added that the opposition asked for the funding and targets of the benefit to be shown as a condition for starting debate. An NHK headline said the opposition wanted the recipients of the support payments to be specified. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
On 15 October NHK reported that the LDP again proposed 20 October to Minshu Kaikaku no Kai (民主改革の会), which asked for fuller deliberation, including questioning with Takaichi present. NHK and TBS name Goto's group as Minshu Kaikaku no Kai, while Tokyo Shimbun and Jiji call it Chudo. On 17 October NHK said that the ruling side hopes to win the understanding of many parties and pass the bill, while the opposition intends to ask for the source of funding for the tax cut and the recipients of the income-based support payments. [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 ]
Why it matters
Tokyo Shimbun, citing Kyodo, called the bill the government's most important of this Diet session, and the ruling side wants to move it to the Upper House in the first half of November. The opposition has said it will keep pressing for details on funding and on who would receive the income-linked payments.
Key facts
- On 16 October the Diet affairs chiefs of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Lower House group Chudo agreed to start Lower House plenary debate on the food consumption tax cut bill on 20 October. [ 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will attend the 20 October plenary session. [ 6 , 7 , 9 ]
- The bill cuts the consumption tax rate on food and drink from 8% to 1% for two years only. [ 6 ]
- The ruling side first proposed the 20 October date at a Lower House steering committee directors' meeting on 14 October, and the opposition did not agree. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The opposition said it could not see the whole picture of the bill, including the income-linked benefit system to be introduced together with the tax cut. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The ruling side aims to send the bill to the Upper House in the first half of November, according to Tokyo Shimbun, and Jiji said it wants the bill through the Lower House in early November. [ 6 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The ruling side proposed on 14 October to open Lower House plenary debate on the food consumption tax cut bill on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The opposition did not agree to that proposal on 14 October, and talks continued. [ 1 , 3 ]
- On 16 October the parties agreed to open Lower House plenary debate on the bill on 20 October, with Prime Minister Takaichi attending. [ 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
Still unclear
- What the income-linked benefit system will contain, including its funding and who it will cover. The opposition said the content was unclear and asked for the funding source and the recipients to be shown; the documents give no details.
- Whether the prime minister will attend committee sessions on the bill. Jiji and Tokyo Shimbun say the opposition is asking for this; no document says it has been agreed.
- The name of the group whose Diet affairs chief, Yuichi Goto, met the LDP's Hideki Murai. Tokyo Shimbun and Jiji call it Chudo (中道), while NHK and TBS call it Minshu Kaikaku no Kai (民主改革の会).
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 14 October Sankei reported that the ruling side proposed a 20 October plenary start at the Lower House steering committee directors' meeting and the opposition did not agree. [ 1 ]
- On 14 October TBS reported that the opposition refused because the content was unclear and asked for the funding and targets of the benefit to be shown. [ 3 ]
- On 15 October NHK reported that the LDP again proposed 20 October to Minshu Kaikaku no Kai, which asked for fuller deliberation including the prime minister's attendance. [ 5 ]
- On 16 October Tokyo Shimbun, citing Kyodo, reported that the LDP and Chudo Diet affairs chiefs agreed on a 20 October start with Takaichi attending. [ 6 ]
- On 17 October NHK reported that debate begins the following week, with the ruling side seeking passage and the opposition seeking details on funding and the income-based support payments. [ 12 ]