Japan's Diet enters final debate over secondary capital bill

Japan's National Diet entered the final stage of debate on July 9 over a bill to establish Osaka as a secondary capital ^[1].

The legislation represents a major shift in Japan's administrative structure, aiming to decentralize power from Tokyo. However, the move has sparked a political battle over regional bias and the legality of the proposed administrative changes.

Opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party led by Chair Saito Yoshitaka and the Japan Innovation Party represented by Yoshifumi Yoshimura, have resisted the bill. These groups argue the proposal is too focused on Osaka. They are demanding a referendum on the creation of special wards, and the scheduling of simultaneous local elections ^[1], ^[2].

Saito said that the bill is not in a state where a vote should be taken and that all opposition parties would not reach a vote ^[3].

Meanwhile, Junya Ogawa of the centrist reform coalition warned of severe consequences if the ruling Liberal Democratic Party uses its majority to force the bill through. Ogawa said that if the government attempts to push the bill through using the power of numbers, the coalition would take maximum countermeasures, including a motion of no confidence against the administration ^[4].

Despite the tension, Yoshifumi Yoshimura said the Japan Innovation Party will not yield on the goal of passing the bill during the current Diet session ^[5].

Time is running out for the ruling coalition. While the official end of the current Diet session is July 17 ^[6], some reports indicate a de facto deadline of July 14 for the bill to pass the lower house ^[7]. Because of the tight window, some members of the ruling coalition have called for an extension of the session to allow for more deliberation ^[1].