Overview
- The extraordinary session closed without referring the bill to the Special Committee on Political Reform, with a heavy docket on donation reforms and an evenly split Rules and Administration Committee blocking progress.
- The proposal contains an automatic cut of 45 seats if parties fail to agree within a year, a provision opposed by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition forces.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and JIP leader Hirofumi Yoshimura agreed to carry the measure into the ordinary session after it never entered deliberation, and Yoshimura publicly expressed frustration.
- The ruling and opposition camps will now hash out electoral reform in a lower house council led by Aisawa, with parties expected to submit plans and narrow differences by spring.
- Takaichi ruled out dissolving the lower house this year and highlighted fiscal priorities after securing passage of the fiscal 2025 supplementary budget and scheduling Cabinet approval of the initial fiscal 2026 budget for Dec. 26.