Important Issues Left Behind

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed his plan that he would announce his decision about whether he would dissolve House of Representatives after his visit to United States for attending United Nations high-level meetings. It is likely that he will do it at the cost of everything. A lot of agenda, which would have been discussed in the extraordinary session of the Diet this fall, will be left behind.

Abe administration has been focusing on the reform of the way of working. The government was preparing for related bills to be submitted to coming session. The bills included revised Labor Standard Act, which would introduce a kind of white collar exemption named High-level Professional System, and revised Labor Contract Law, which would improve relationship between officially contracted workers and the unofficial with principle of same-labor-same-wage.

Reform of the way of working must have been one of the top agenda for Abe administration. Since the biggest supporter for Democratic Party, Japan Trade Union Confederation, opposes white collar exemption, the bill has been regarded as the biggest controversial issue in the session. “It was said that they would recognize it as the most important bill in the extraordinary session,” told DP Secretary General, Atsushi Oshima. “They lack pride as the administration or the leading party, because the session would be closed with the dissolution.”

The dissolution may disturb smoke-free Tokyo Olympic in 2020. The government planed to submit a bill of revising Health Promotion Act, which would deal with passive smoking in public space. While the government assumes two years for introduction of non-smoking policy, the policy may not be activated before World Cup Rugby Games in 2019, which should be the test for Olympic next year.

The age of adult will be staying on 20 years old. Although the government has been preparing for revision of Civil Codes, which reduces the age of adult to 18 years old, the bill cannot be passed this fall. Because the change supposedly needs three years for announcement, the introduction will be delayed to 2022 or later. The bill for activating Integrated Resort Act, which enables gambling in Japan, cannot be passed this fall.

Former Minister of Defense, Shigeru Ishiba, questioned the cause of dissolution. “If he wanted to ask something to the people, what the dissolution is for? It must be clearly presented to the voters,” he said on Thursday. Also leaving money scandals behind, it is a political maneuver of the Prime Minister, by the Prime Minister and for the Prime Minister himself.