Insights | Nagatacho Update

PM Abe to Dissolve the Lower House on 9/28 and Call a Snap Election on 10/22

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seems to have decided to dissolve the House of Representatives as he convenes the Extraordinary Diet Session on 28 September.  It was said that the House would be dissolved in mid-November, considering by-elections for the House of Representatives scheduled in October and US President Donald Trump's visit in early November.

The Extraordinary Diet Session to be Convened on 9/28

The next Extraordinary Diet Session will be convened on Thursday, 28 September.  The government and the ruling party was targeting 25 September initially; however, considering the Emperor's schedule and Prime Minister Abe's visit to the UN, they concluded to open the session later than planned.  In addition to Work-style reform, the bills on constitutional reform and the Integrated Resorts seem to be deliberated.  For more details, please see the article on Mainichi Shimbun (Japanese only) from the link below.

DP Elects Maehara as the Party's New Leader

Seiji Maehara, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, was elected as a new leader of the Democratic Party (DP) today.  At the contest, Maehara won 502 points, about 60% of the votes, while his rival candidate Yukio Edano gained 332.  His predecessor, Renho, resigned from the position taking a responsibility of the party's crushing defeat in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election in July.  Maeara takes it over with an expectation to reorganize the party to win the by-elections for the House of Representatives in October.

DP Presidential Candidates Debate How They Would Reconstruct the Party

Ahead of the party's Presidential Election on 1 September, the two candidates, Seiji Maehara and Yukio Edano of the Democratic Party (DP), discussed how they would regain support for DP and lead the opposition parties against the ruling party at a press conference by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ) today.  They also exchanged their views on the issues on North Korea, the economic policies, and the nuclear energy.  Please see the image above for the video clip of the entire press conference (with the simultaneous Japanese interpretation).

GoJ to Launch New Organization on Trade Negotiations

According to the Nikkei Shimbun, the Government of Japan (GoJ) plans to launch a new organization on trade negotiations. Upon the inauguration of the new US administration, President Trump officially withdrew from the TPP agreement and accused Japan for not purchasing enough American automobiles. Japan is now rather forced to change the trade strategies, for fear of the trade friction.  For more details, please visit the article on the Nikkei Shimbun from the link below (Japanese only).

 

Diplomatic Issues Stressed in PM Abe's Policy Speech

In his policy speech delivered today, Prime Minister Abe indicated his efforts to survive the expected drastic changes in the world by emphasizing on challenges in diplomatic issues, such as the Japan-US alliance, the Northern Territories, and TPP. He also expressed his intentions to work on constitutional revision and the working-style reforms at this ordinary Diet session, in order to "pave the way for better future".

Obstacles may await Ordinary Diet session

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may face the robust discussions and challenging tasks during the 193rd ordinary Diet session, which will be convened tomorrow, 20 January. Among 86 bills to be submitted, a few of them, such as a bill on the imperial abdication and a so-called "conspiracy bill", are expected to cause turbulence between the ruling and opposition parties.

PM Abe pledges his continuous focus on economy in 2017

As the year of 2017 starts, Prime Minister Abe published his New Year's reflection, expressing his continuous focus and efforts on the economic growth. He also clarifies his interest in the Constitution, since 2017 marks the 70th anniversary of it coming into force, and positions the year as a threshold to pave the way for future. For the complete text, please visit the Cabinet Secretariat's website from the link below. 

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