Japan's Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Intensifies; Lower House Speaker Unusually Convenes Parties for Mediation

(CNA Tokyo, July 1, Comprehensive Foreign News) Japan's opposition parties, dissatisfied with the ruling party's forceful push for bill deliberations, all boycotted all Lower House deliberations today. Amidst escalating confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties, Lower House Speaker Fukushiro Nishimura today morning unusually convened representatives from seven ruling and opposition parties to mediate.

According to reports from "Mainichi Shimbun" and "Yomiuri Shimbun," the ruling coalition formed by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party forcibly deliberated and amended bills related to the fixed number of Lower House members, sparking dissatisfaction among opposition parties. This led to the opposition parties collectively boycotting deliberations on bills related to the fixed number of Lower House members and the "Metropolitan Area Revitalization Plan," resulting in only the ruling party deliberating bills in the Lower House today.

According to Nippon TV, in response, Fukushiro Nishimura held talks with representatives from the ruling and opposition parties this morning. Regarding the amendment to the "Imperial House Law" submitted to the Diet by the Japanese government yesterday, he stated, "This is an important issue that cannot be postponed," and added, "I hope everyone can prioritize its passage in a calm environment."

He also told the ruling party, "I hope the ruling party will consider convening the party leader discussions and concentrated deliberations requested by the opposition parties," and appealed to both sides, "I hope the Diet can return to normal."

Representatives from the five opposition parties later met elsewhere to discuss their next course of action.

The Japanese opposition has made Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's normal attendance at concentrated deliberations and party leader discussions at the House of Councillors Budget Committee a condition for the normal functioning of the Diet.

Motohisa Furukawa, acting representative of the Democratic Party for the People, stated, "Some people or media say the opposition parties are refusing deliberations, but the ones truly refusing deliberations are the ruling party, the government and the ruling party."

One opposition party member said, "Normally, before the Speaker intervenes, the ruling and opposition parties would have already grasped the general direction privately, but now there isn't even that kind of communication."

Reports indicate that even if Sanae Takaichi decides to attend concentrated deliberations and other meetings, it remains uncertain whether the Diet can return to normal operation.

Earlier today, Sanae Takaichi told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office that she intends to attend as requested by the Diet. She said, "When the Diet previously asked me to attend, I attended and answered honestly, and this policy will not change."

Reports point out that the Lower House Speaker's "rare request" today and Sanae Takaichi's decision on attending the Diet are being closely watched to see if they can lead to the Diet's normal operation. The Japanese Diet will go into recess in about two weeks, and the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties is becoming increasingly tense. (Compiled by Yang Weijing) 1150701

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