物価ぶっか高だか対策たいさく 自公じこう幹事かんじ長ちょう“現金げんきん給付きゅうふ 両りょう党とう政調せいちょう会長かいちょうのもとで議論ぎろん”

Regarding measures against rising prices, the secretaries-general of both the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito reaffirmed that discussions on the cash handouts promised in the recent House of Councillors election will be advanced under the leadership of the policy research council chairmen of both parties.

LDP Secretary-General Moriyama and Komeito Secretary-General Nishida held a meeting in Tokyo on the morning of the 26th, with officials in charge of Diet affairs from both parties also in attendance.

In this context, Mr. Nishida called for the policy to provide 20,000 yen per person, which both parties included in their pledges during the recent House of Councillors election as a measure against rising prices, and to add an extra 20,000 yen for children and adults in households exempt from resident tax. He urged the policy research chairpersons of both parties to accelerate discussions on designing the system.

In response, Mr. Moriyama replied, I will make sure to convey this to the Policy Research Council Chairman, and reaffirmed that discussions would continue.

Regarding cash handouts, while some within the ruling party argue that it was an election promise and needs to be implemented, others point out that since the ruling party is now a minority in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, the budget bill cannot be passed and implemented without the cooperation of the opposition parties. Therefore, there are calls to review aspects such as the recipients and the amount of the handouts.

In addition, at the meeting on the 26th, in connection with working-level talks between the ruling and opposition parties regarding the abolition of the provisional gasoline tax rate, it was confirmed that a permanent source of funding would be necessary if the tax were to be abolished, and that every effort would be made to support recovery, including assistance to small and medium-sized businesses affected by the record-breaking heavy rains that occurred this summer in regions such as Kyushu.