LDP and JIP agree to delay bill reducing Lower House seats

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura agreed Tuesday evening to postpone debate on a bill to reduce Lower House seats until after the current parliamentary session. The two leaders met in Tokyo for seven minutes. Neither offered details of the agreement afterward.

Background on the bill Yoshimura stated that reducing the number of legislative seats remains a top priority for his party. He said the measure is part of both parties' campaign platforms and must be completed. "Reducing the number of legislative seats is the cornerstone of reform and was part of our campaign platform and something promised by the LDP and the JIP.

I believe we must, of course, see (the seat reduction bill) through to the end," he told reporters after the meeting. The bill would cut the number of seats in Japan's Lower House. The parties had previously committed to advancing the legislation during the current session.