House of Councilors Budget Committee opening delayed by 2 hours due to opposition from constituents ``Insufficient explanation of hearing''

The House of Councilors Budget Committee, which is deliberating the new fiscal year's budget bill, has criticized the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, saying that the Liberal Democratic Party's explanation regarding Prime Minister Kishida's interviews with Abe faction executives regarding issues surrounding the faction's political funding party was insufficient. The opening of the meeting was delayed by two hours. The ruling and opposition parties are coordinating to vote on the budget bill in committees and plenary sessions after questions and answers.

The House of Councilors Budget Committee was scheduled to hold a closing question and answer session from 9 a.m. on the 28th, with Prime Minister Kishida and all cabinet members in attendance.

At a board meeting held prior to the committee meeting, the Liberal Democratic Party revealed that, at the request of the opposition party, Prime Minister Kishida had interviewed four senior members of the Abe faction regarding issues surrounding the faction's political funding party. explained.

In response, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan objected, saying that the content of the hearing was not sufficiently explained and could not be questioned, so the Liberal Democratic Party and the chairperson of the House of Councilors Diet Measures Committee of the Constitutional Democratic Party met to discuss a response.

As a result, it was decided that a question-and-answer session would begin at 11:00 a.m., and the handling of explanations regarding the hearing would continue to be discussed.

The closing question-and-answer session of the House of Councilors Budget Committee began two hours late, and Tsujimoto, acting representative of the Constitutional Democratic Party, said, ``The new hearings from the four additional people revealed that former Prime Minister Mori was involved in the decision to resume kickbacks.'' "Is it okay to say that there was no mention of anything going on? If you do anything about it, it will become a liability issue. I want you to promise to make it clear."

In response, Prime Minister Kishida said, ``I would like to link the additional interviews to the party's decision to clarify political responsibility.As part of that process, I would like to consider officially making the investigation public.'' We must be very careful about how we publish the details of the investigation in order to get the individuals to express their true feelings, so I will refrain from disclosing the details at this time.''

He added, ``Former Prime Minister Mori is also one of the people involved, so he could be included as a person who is necessary to clarify his political responsibility, but in any case, we are still working on who is the necessary person.'' said.

The ruling and opposition parties are coordinating to vote on the budget bill in the committee and plenary session after questions, and the new budget bill is expected to be passed and enacted with a majority of votes from the ruling parties.

Liberal Democratic Party House of Councilors Country Relations Committee Chairman Ishii: ``We want to move quickly to a resolution.''

Ishii, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's House of Councilors Diet Measures Committee, told reporters, ``The opposition party has given us some homework, so if we respond to it and it is approved, we might be able to reach a consensus by voting on the budget bill.'' "Our mission is to swiftly vote on the new budget bill for the new fiscal year, so I want to respond appropriately."

Ritmin Policy Research Council Chairman Nagatsuma: “Budget deliberations seem foggy”

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's Political Affairs Research Chair Nagatsuma said at a press conference, ``In the wake of the Noto Peninsula earthquake, normally a supplementary budget bill is prepared properly, but I don't understand the logic that it's okay just because there is a reserve fund in the main budget. There was not enough explanation about the major changes in defense policy, such as the new fighter plane and the next generation of fighter jets.Despite requests to subpoena witnesses from senior Abe supporters, there was little progress, and budget deliberations seemed cloudy. We will clear the fog."