This general view shows lawmakers discussing at upper house of the parliament in Tokyo on June 15, 2022. (PHOTO / STR / JIJI PRESS / AFP)
TOKYO – Japan's main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party submitted a no-confidence motion on Tuesday against Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki, aiming to block a vote on a bill to increase defense spending.
By submitting the motion, the opposition party obstructed a vote on the bill for securing funds for the planned defense spending boost, which was scheduled to be held in the Lower House Financial Affairs Committee on the day.
The Constitutional Democratic Party said in the motion that defense spending increases are interfering with financial resources earmarked for the reconstruction work in areas affected by earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that occurred on March 11, 2011
The Constitutional Democratic Party said in the motion that defense spending increases are interfering with financial resources earmarked for the reconstruction work in areas affected by earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that occurred on March 11, 2011.
The party added that they have no choice but to call the bill defective as it has many problems, noting that the finance minister is trying to steamroller it through.
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Jun Azumi, the Diet affairs chief of the Constitutional Democratic Party, said the increased defense budget is disproportionately large compared to Japan's financial circumstances.
He said lawmakers should not secure funds by taking away money, which should be spent on welfare and people in need, adding that they will take all possible measures to postpone the vote.
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Takao Ochi of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, a senior member of the Lower House Financial Affairs Committee, told reporters that the bill has been debated for a month and he will make an all-out effort to have it passed in the Lower House and then sent to the Upper House.