The budget for the new fiscal year = FY Reiwa 114, in which the total amount of the general account will be more than 5 trillion yen, the largest ever, was voted on at a plenary session of the House of Councillors and passed with a majority of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito Party.
Prime Minister Kishida told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office on the evening of March 28, "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the parties concerned, including the ruling and opposition parties, for their cooperation in the early passage of the budget, and we will work swiftly to execute the budget."
In addition, regarding the decision at the Cabinet meeting on March 28 to spend a total of more than 2 trillion yen from the contingency fund for this fiscal year for price measures and other measures, he stated, "We will respond flexibly and seamlessly to protect people's lives and business activities from soaring energy and food prices."
Remarks on the dissolution and general election "Issues are unified local elections and by-elections for the House of Representatives"
Commenting on comments from within the ruling party regarding the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the general election, Prime Minister Kishida said, "The issues that we must definitely tackle going forward are unified local elections and by-elections for both houses of the House of Representatives. That's all I'm thinking about right now."
Cabinet approval rating: "Unique dedication to issues that cannot be postponed"
Commenting on the increase in the Cabinet's approval rating in various opinion polls, Prime Minister Kishida stated, "Our stance of doing what we need to do without worrying about it will not change, and it is important to make unique efforts to come up with answers to issues that cannot be postponed, such as realist diplomacy for the new era and policies for children and child-rearing."
He then stated, "We will continue to engage in diplomatic initiatives and various domestic policy issues with strong determination, and I hope that we will continue to be highly evaluated."
Russia's missile launch exercises: "Closely watching"
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on the 2th that two ships of the Pacific Fleet conducted a launch exercise of the anti-ship cruise missile "Mosquito" off the coast of Vladivostok in the Far East facing the Japan Sea.
Prime Minister Kishida stated, "There have been no reports of damage, and as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, Russian forces are also intensifying their activities in the Far East, including around Japan, and we will continue to pay close attention to developments."
On the other hand, he stated, "We are conducting diplomatic exchanges with the Russian side as necessary, and we will continue to conduct necessary exchanges in the future."