June 18, 2020

The 201st ordinary session of the Diet went into recess on June 17. At the same time, the ruling block and the opposition forces, including the Japanese Communist Party, agreed to hold discussions regularly on issues related to the anti-coronavirus efforts during the recess.

The opposition parties earlier on the day held a secretaries-general meeting in the Diet building. In the meeting, they confirmed that as the coronavirus situation has yet to be brought under control, the Diet should remain open in order to discuss corona-related issues such as preparations for a possible second or even third wave of COVID-19 cases, and oversee the budget implementation. The secretaries-general decided to demand the extension of the current Diet session scheduled to close on this day for another 194 days until December 28.

After the meeting, they submitted a demand for a 194-day delay of the Diet recess to Speaker of the House of Representatives Oshima Tadamori. The opposition parties’ demand, however, was dismissed by the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties.

Following the ruling block’s rejection, Diet affairs committee chiefs of the ruling and opposition parties met in the Diet building. In the meeting, the LDP and Komei party offered to discuss issues regarding the ongoing health emergency once a week in relevant committees in both Houses during the Diet recess. The ruling coalition also made an offer to call both chambers’ budget committee meetings at an appropriate time. The opposition block accepted these offers and agreed with its counterpart to arrange necessary committee meetings in both Houses from next week.

Later on the same day, at the beginning of a Lower House plenary meeting, Oshima delivered a report regarding the opposition parties’ request to extend the Diet session for 194 days and then declared the recess.

Past related articles:
> Shii in discussion on 2nd supplementary budget calls for increasing preparedness for renewed surge in COVID-19 cases [ June 11, 2020]
> Opposition parties propose motion to recompile 2nd supplementary budget [ June 11, 2020]