Asahi Blasts Takaichi Over 59-Hour Diet Budget Review, Warning of Democratic Distortion
Updated
Updated · 朝日新聞デジタル · Jul 27
Asahi Blasts Takaichi Over 59-Hour Diet Budget Review, Warning of Democratic Distortion
1 articles · Updated · 朝日新聞デジタル · Jul 27
Summary
59 hours of Lower House budget deliberations — the shortest in 20 years — became a central example in Asahi's critique that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi curtailed scrutiny and forced bills through with her ruling majority.
Two party-leader debates and Takaichi's limited committee appearances reinforced the paper's charge that she avoided explaining policy, including a month-long delay in submitting aide testimony over defamatory-video reports.
Late-session legislation then deepened the backlash: measures on the Imperial House Law, flag desecration and a secondary-capital plan were rushed ahead despite public division, expert doubts and turmoil between the ruling bloc and opposition.
Nippon Ishin's backing after Komeito left the coalition helped Takaichi advance those priorities, while the Liberal Democratic Party was faulted for failing to restrain her and acting as a mere arm of the prime minister.
Asahi said the opposition's fragmented response also exposed a broader failure of the Diet's checking function, calling the session a crisis for Japan's parliamentary democracy.