Japan to Convene Regular Diet Session on Jan. 28

January 18, 2019

Tokyo--The government on Friday announced a plan to convene this year's regular session of the Diet, Japan's parliament, on Jan. 28 for a 150-day run through June 26.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga presented the plan at executive meetings of both Diet chambers' steering committees. Given the schedule, the next election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber, is likely to be held on July 21 unless the session is extended.

In the session, opposition parties look certain to attack Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration over irregularities in a monthly labor survey that has led to massive underpayments of jobless and other benefits.

Suga also conveyed plans to submit on Jan. 28 a draft second supplementary budget for fiscal 2018 and a draft of the regular budget for fiscal 2019 that has been revised due to the labor survey scandal.

The opposition requested the government to present materials related to the scandal at an early date. Suga promised to conduct full probes and devise thorough preventive measures.

Four policy speeches, including one by Abe, will be delivered also on Jan. 28. The government is expected to answer questions by political party leaders on Jan. 30-31 at the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, and on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at the Upper House.

Opposition parties also plan to seek explanation from the government on its policy of accepting more foreign workers under new visa categories.

Heated Diet discussions are expected ahead of unified local elections in spring and the Upper House election in summer. Jiji Press