Editorial

17:48 JST, January 6, 2025

It is inevitable for a minority ruling coalition to seek the cooperation of opposition parties to realize its policies.

However, if the ruling bloc is so obsessed with holding on to the reins of government that it puts aside the task of securing financial resources and readily accepts tax reductions and other demands, the nation’s strength will only decline. How long will it continue with such politics? This is a lamentable situation.

The humble approach taken by the administration of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was conspicuous in the extraordinary Diet session last year, in which the ruling parties no longer held a majority in the House of Representatives.

To gain the cooperation of the Democratic Party for the People, the ruling coalition moved to review the annual income threshold, above which income tax is levied. It also approached the Japan Innovation Party and began discussions toward making school tuition free, a policy advocated by the JIP.

Ishiba praised how the ruling bloc has handled the Diet and political matters, saying: “We have made efforts to build a broad consensus. The Diet session has turned out to be truly deliberative.” However, the prime minister appears to be merely trying to “flatter” opposition parties, for the purpose of prolonging his own political life. It can hardly be described as “deliberative.”

There are numerous issues to be dealt with at home and abroad. It is impossible to overcome the challenges simply........

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