tokyo

The current extraordinary session is to last until December 9th, running for 67 days. While the focus has remained in preparations for the Emperor’s enthronement ceremony and the damages caused by the typhoon, the Diet started its session with the PM’s calls to advance a social welfare system that will provide security to all generations — from young children to the old. The Government will submit legislation dealing with reforms to corporate laws, the ratification of the U.S trade deal, and an amendment to the National Strategic Special Zone Law to create “super cities”. The ruling parties will push forward for amendment to the referendum law, echoing the Government’s wish to push for serious parliamentary debate over constitutional revision. Due to the opposition parties boycotting talks on constitutional revision, there was an appeal for the Prime Minister to call for a snap election, now seen unlikely by both Komeito and LDP lawmakers in order to take care of supplementary budget allocations for the reconstruction efforts in typhoon damaged-areas.