Prime Minister Sanae Takahashi returned to the House of Representatives on Tuesday after a 10-day absence [1].
The return signals an attempt to break a legislative stalemate that has stalled the lower house, threatening the stability of the government's current parliamentary agenda.
Takahashi said she will prioritize Diet deliberations over international engagements, including the NATO summit scheduled to start July 7, 2026 [2]. To ensure her presence in Tokyo, she appointed the foreign minister and defense minister to attend the summit as her representatives [1].
"If there is a request, I will attend in this manner, and I have responded sincerely until now," Takahashi said [1]. She said she would continue to attend and provide answers whenever requested by the legislature [1].
The move follows sharp criticism from opposition members regarding her handling of parliamentary business. Yoshida Tadashi, a lawmaker with the Constitutional Democratic Party, said that the Diet had been stalled [1].
"I want to hear that [the Prime Minister] will appear steadily and respond with sincerity," Yoshida said [1].
While the House of Representatives remains deadlocked, the House of Councillors is showing signs of normalizing its deliberations [1]. However, this progress is inconsistent; reports indicate that some scheduled meetings, such as the Constitution Review Committee, have been bypassed [3].
Parliamentary management currently remains on a precarious tightrope as the administration balances the need for domestic legislative progress against its international obligations [1].
“"If there is a request, I will attend in this manner, and I have responded sincerely until now,"”
Takahashi's decision to skip a major international summit in favor of domestic legislative duties is a calculated political move to appease the opposition. By prioritizing the Diet over NATO, she is attempting to neutralize accusations of avoidance and restore a functioning legislative process, though the continued deadlock in the lower house suggests that her presence alone may not be enough to resolve the underlying political friction.
