On January 31, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba engaged with an opposition lawmaker during a session of the Lower House Budget Committee, reflecting the growing complexity of passing the record 115 trillion yen budget for fiscal year 2025. The ruling coalition, lacking an outright majority, is now dependent on opposition support to secure approval before the new fiscal year begins on April 1.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has pushed for its proposals, such as offering free senior high school education and free school lunches, to be incorporated into a revised budget. In response, Ishiba emphasized the committee’s role in gathering diverse viewpoints, suggesting that the inclusion of different stances is essential for steering the discussion toward a more favorable outcome.
Historically, revisions to the government’s initial budget proposal have been rare, with only four similar instances since 1945. The current scenario echoes past challenges; the Ishiba administration had to strike a delicate balance by obtaining backing from smaller opposition parties to pass a revised supplementary budget—an effort unprecedented in 28 years.
Additional proposals are expected from other opposition groups like the Democratic Party for the People and Nippon Ishin, further complicating the process. With the government aiming to finalize the budget via the Lower House by March 2, uncertainty lingers over the time needed for these adjustments, a situation compounded by procedural delays such as the recent glitch during testimony on controversial political funds.