Ishiba’s New Government Secures Opposition Backing for Economic Stimulus in Japan.
In a significant political development in Japan, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba‘s new minority government has secured the backing of a key opposition group for an economic stimulus package aimed at addressing public discontent over inflation and revitalizing the economy.
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which Ishiba leads, suffered its worst election result in 15 years last month, leaving the ruling coalition short of a majority in parliament.
The raft of measures in the stimulus package is intended to ease public anger over rising prices, which was a significant factor in the LDP’s election setback in October. The package could be approved by the cabinet as early as this Friday, according to media reports.
In exchange for the DPP’s support, the LDP and Komeito have agreed to a DPP proposal to lift the ceiling for tax-free annual income above 1.03 million yen (approximately $6,610).
The smaller party argued that this move, which has not happened in 30 years, would help address labor shortages and boost consumer spending by encouraging part-time workers to earn more.
LDP policy chief Itsunori Onodera acknowledged the need for the ruling coalition to listen carefully to the opposition and cooperate with them in policymaking, noting that this negotiation process sets an example for how the government should approach such cooperation in the future.
The LDP, which has governed Japan almost uninterruptedly for decades, was punished by voters in the last election due to factors such as inflation and a party slush fund scandal that contributed to the downfall of Ishiba’s predecessor, Fumio Kishida.
Ishiba, who took office as prime minister on October 1, is facing his own challenges, with a recent survey showing a slight decline in the approval rating for his cabinet to 46 percent.
The new premier has also drawn criticism on social media for incidents such as being spotted napping in parliament and missing a group photo with fellow world leaders due to traffic issues.
