Overview
- The House of Representatives opened questioning on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s agenda, focusing on her “responsible and proactive” fiscal stance and the fiscal 2026 budget timetable.
- The government and ruling coalition seek budget passage before the fiscal year ends in March, a goal the Centrist Reform Alliance opposes as too rushed.
- CRA leader Junya Ogawa attacked January’s snap dissolution and the shortened campaign; Takaichi apologized to local governments for the compressed preparation but denied trying to disadvantage opponents.
- Takaichi urged cooperation for prompt deliberations and promoted a cross-party council on issues such as consumption tax cuts, while opposition leaders demanded open debate on the Diet floor.
- Ruling-bloc questioners pressed her on market scrutiny of fiscal sustainability and on cutting lower house seats, and the CRA later called her responses polite yet shallow while lamenting its reduced clout.