Opposition slams government virus response as Diet debate starts Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you re not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/
Kyodo Jan 20, 2021
The country’s main opposition party criticized the government in the Diet Wednesday for its delay in declaring a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic and opposed its plan to penalize those infected with the virus who refuse to be hospitalized.
After Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pledged Monday at the start of an ordinary Diet session to bring the pandemic under control in Japan, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Edano said the country’s medical system is “not just strained but has already collapsed” due to the government’s slow response.
A term of up to one year or a fine of up to ¥1 million is being considered for infected people declining inpatient care, an official said, with other related penalties also under discussion.
The budgets were drawn up without the assumption that the government would declare a fresh state of emergency for the Tokyo area, CDP leader Yukio Edano said.
Japan parties to forgo making rules on lawmakers group dining Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you re not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/
Jiji Jan 8, 2021
The ruling and opposition parties are set to forgo making rules on lawmakers group dining amid the resurging novel coronavirus.
Parliamentary affairs heads of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan initially agreed Wednesday to speed up talks on such rules in line with the government s fresh state of emergency in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures over the pandemic.
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The coming year poses daunting challenges for the fledgling cabinet of Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide. With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, the once-delayed Tokyo Olympic Games looming, and Diet and party elections in the offing, how will Suga juggle the demands of policy, party, and electoral strategy to consolidate his leadership? And how will Japan’s opposition forces take advantage of their recent merger?
Suga’s “Policy First” Approach
The year 2021 will be a busy and potentially pivotal one for Japanese politics. The Diet reconvenes in mid-January to deliberate two budgets before taking up the cabinet’s legislative agenda. The Tokyo Olympic Games are set to begin on July 23 after a one-year delay. Prime Minister Suga, who replaced Abe Shinzō as LDP president after Abe’s sudden resignation last September, could face a strong challenge in the regular LDP leadership election scheduled for September 2021. The current terms of all members of the Hous