A political cacophony persists as leaders clash over who has the final say in peeling back countermeasures meant to blunt the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
By leaning on prefectural governors to determine whether travel and dining subsidies should be suspended in their area, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is delegating responsibility — or accountability — to local leaders, many of whom are calling on the central government to take charge of national programs.
On the other hand, Suga’s shift in policy amounts to an implicit acknowledgement on the government’s part that the pandemic is, in many ways, a regional issue best dealt with by regional leaders.