Overview
- The House of Councillors begins substantive debate on March 16, where the ruling bloc lacks a majority and faces tougher scrutiny.
- Lower house deliberations were compressed to about 59 hours, the briefest in decades, and an opposition motion to dismiss Budget Committee chair Tetsushi Sakamoto was defeated.
- Subcommittees to review ministry budgets were not convened for the first time since 1989, drawing criticism from opposition parties over curtailed oversight.
- The plan allocates a record ¥9.04 trillion for defense and relies on ¥29.58 trillion in new bond issuance, reflecting expanded spending and higher debt dependence.
- Government leaders aim to secure passage by March 31 to avoid disruptions to public services, though rules ensure enactment by April 11 even without upper house approval.