Overview
- After a sweeping February election win, the LDP holds more than two-thirds of the Lower House and, with the Japan Innovation Party, controls over three-quarters, which lets it override the Upper House.
- The centrist Reform Alliance lost veteran Diet dealmakers, including Jun Azumi’s seat loss and Hirofumi Kasa’s exit, leaving new negotiator Kazuhiko Shigetoku with little bargaining experience.
- Shigetoku asked for a party leaders’ debate in May, yet LDP Diet affairs chief Hiroshi Kajiyama did not commit, underscoring the ruling bloc’s control of the calendar.
- The government pushed the 2026 budget through the Lower House with sharply reduced debate time, and a Mainichi poll found 38% saw problems with the process compared with 25% who did not.
- Lawmakers expect fights over a proposed flag-desecration offense, cuts to Lower House seats, and retrial rules, and critics warn these could move on the ruling parties’ timetable given opposition disunity.