The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will postpone deliberations on a bill to reduce the number of Diet members during the current session [1].

This compromise allows the Nippon Ishin no Kai (Ishin) party to prioritize the realization of the Osaka Metropolis Plan, a long-standing political goal. By stepping back from the seat reduction fight, Ishin aims to ensure a referendum on the plan can be held during the unified local elections in the spring of 2027 [1, 3].

The current House of Representatives consists of 465 members, and discussions have focused on a reduction of approximately 10%, or about 46 seats [3]. However, the LDP and Ishin have agreed to set aside this issue as the current Diet session nears its end on July 17 [2].

Reporters note the urgency for Ishin due to a strict timeline. "There is a time limit for the realization of the 'Osaka Metropolis Plan,' which can be called Ishin's cherished dream," said FNN reporter Mako Fukuda [1].

While the LDP conceded on the seat reduction timeline, it remains firm on other fronts. A bill related to the designation of a "vice capital" will be submitted to the House of Representatives [2]. This legislation is a critical policy priority for Ishin, and the party has indicated it will not compromise on its passage [1, 2].

Previously, Ishin representative Hirofumi Yoshimura said that if a seat reduction bill were rejected in the Upper House, a re-discussion would require a two-thirds majority [3]. The current agreement avoids that legislative deadlock for now, shifting the focus toward regional governance in Osaka.

The LDP, under Prime Minister Takaichi, continues to navigate these negotiations to maintain stability in the Diet while managing the specific regional demands of the Ishin party [1, 3].

“"There is a time limit for the realization of the 'Osaka Metropolis Plan,' which can be called Ishin's cherished dream,"”

This deal represents a strategic trade-off where Ishin is sacrificing a national reform goal—reducing the size of the legislature—to secure a path for its primary regional objective in Osaka. By avoiding a legislative clash before the July 17 session end, the parties are stabilizing the national government to ensure the 2027 local elections can serve as a definitive mandate for the Osaka Metropolis Plan.