TOKYO: The Diet, Japan’s parliament, convened for a 150-day regular session on Friday, with battles expected to unfold between the ruling and opposition camps over the high-profile political funds scandal.

During the session through June 23, the focus will be whether the two sides can work out effective reform measures for a proposed revision to the political funds control law in response to the alleged violations of the law involving intraparty factions of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The government and the ruling coalition of the LDP and Komeito aim to enact the government budget for fiscal 2024 as soon as possible so that they can surely implement measures to tackle rising prices and help rebuild areas devastated by the Jan. 1 Noto Peninsula earthquake.

“People are watching our party with stern eyes,” said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, also president of the LDP. “We will discuss with each party and parliamentary group issues such as ensuring the transparency of political funds and do what should be done.”

Kenta Izumi, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, told a party meeting that the administration led by Kishida “has not paid attention to people’s lives.” The CDP leader added, “We will drive ourselves forward with our strong resolve to take the reins of government.”

Diet affairs chiefs from the ruling and opposition sides had a meeting Friday, where the LDP’s Yasukazu Hamada apologized for the scandal and called for cooperation in running the regular Diet session.

On the same day, four opposition parties, including the CDP and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), submitted to the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, a bill to double the upper limit of relief money for victims of natural disasters to 6 million yen per household.

During the session, opposition parties plan to strongly demand that the truth of the scandal be brought to light and that senior members of LDP factions be held accountable. Tough questions about the government’s responses to the New Year’s Day earthquake are also expected be asked.

On Friday afternoon, an opening ceremony for the regular Diet session was held with Emperor Naruhito present at the chamber of the House of Councillors, the Upper House, for plenary meetings.

Four policy speeches by the government usually take place on the opening day of a regular Diet session, but this time, they will be delivered on Tuesday because the budget committees of both chambers of the Diet are scheduled to hold intensive deliberations on the money-and-politics issue on Monday at the request of opposition parties.

Question-and-answer sessions on the speeches will be held for three days from Wednesday.

JIJI Press