Overview
- The LDP notified opposition lawmakers that it will not push the bill to reduce the number of House of Representatives seats during the current Diet session.
- The seat-cut bill would have automatically removed 45 proportional representation seats if no agreement on a new seat plan is reached within a year of enactment.
- The Japan Innovation Party joined the LDP coalition last October in exchange for passage of the seat-cut and secondary-capital bills and is pressing the government to deliver before the session ends.
- Opposition parties have refused to discuss the major measures and have demanded intensive debates with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over reports of online smear videos, leaving parliament gridlocked.
- Because the ruling bloc lacks a majority in the Upper House, leaders are weighing whether to extend the session or seek further negotiations to try to pass a backup-capital bill and related measures.