Negotiations to amend the fiscal 2025 government draft budget—a critical measure determining the future of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's administration—are entering their final phase.

At this crucial time, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), the primary opposition party, held its party convention on Feb. 24 in Tokyo.

During the convention, the CDP pledged to "unite all efforts" to seize power and outlined a strategic plan aimed at preventing the ruling coalition, composed of the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, Komeito, from winning the majority of the seats up for grabs in the upcoming summer Upper House election.

During the Diet session with a minority government, the CDP, under the slogan of “meticulous and open discussions,” has tried to assert its role as a “responsible opposition party” capable of governing the nation through various policy initiatives.

For example, it has led the move for the introduction of ministry-specific budget scrutiny, checking the proposed expenditures item by item.

However, the CDP has struggled to make its presence felt strongly compared to other opposition parties.

Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), for example, has agreed with the ruling coalition on a set of education and social welfare policies, including free high school tuition, while the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) continues discussions with the ruling camp about raising the minimum taxable income threshold, currently set at 1.03 million yen ($6,800).

Although the CDP increased its seats by 50 in last fall's Lower House election, its approval rating in public opinion polls conducted by The Asahi Shimbun has remained in the single digits since December last year, lower than that of the DPP.

At the convention, CDP chief Yoshihiko Noda emphasized the importance of opposition cooperation without falling into the trap of the LDP’s strategy to pit Nippon Ishin, the DPP, and the CDP against each other.

He highlighted the CDP's role in uniting opposition parties to achieve policies such as banning political donations by businesses and other organizations and introducing the option of separate surnames for married couples.

These are proposals the LDP-led government has failed to tackle. The current political situation, with the opposition camp holding the majority in the Lower House, presents a great opportunity to start serious Diet debate on these issues.

However, differences in positions on these measures exist among the opposition parties. Noda’s political prowess will be sorely tested as the CDP strives to secure effective unity and cooperation beyond rhetoric among opposition parties to confront the LDP.

Recently, the CDP submitted a proposal to the ruling coalition for a 3.8 trillion yen revision of the draft budget. This revision aims to reallocate funds by cutting budget reserves—funds accumulated for specific purposes that allow for flexible allocation across fiscal years—and contingency reserves.

The CDP plans to use the savings to finance initiatives such as free school lunches, free high school education, reduced gasoline prices, and a freeze on the increase in the upper limit of out-of-pocket payments for high-cost medical treatments.

The package, which includes sources of funding, seems to demonstrate the party’s commitment to responsible fiscal management. However, the sustainability of using reserve cuts as a long-term funding source remains uncertain.

The proposal also prompts a closer examination of the overall coherence of the CDP’s policy proposals and their potential adverse effects. For example, reducing the gasoline tax surcharge by eliminating the provisional tax rate could undermine efforts toward decarbonization.

In reviewing the system that limits patients' out-of-pocket expenses for high-cost medical treatments, the government, facing strong opposition from cancer and other patient advocacy groups, revised its initial policy to avoid increasing the financial burden on long-term patients.

The probing questions posed by CDP lawmakers during the current Diet session apparently played a role in influencing the government's decision to reconsider its stance.

When the government and ruling coalition overlook the voices of those directly affected by policies impacting people's lives and livelihoods, the CDP has an opportunity to foster public trust by consistently integrating these front-line perspectives into its policy efforts, even if such efforts are understated.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 25