The nation's ¥19.1 trillion third supplementary budget is expected to clear the Upper House on Thursday evening amid relentless criticism of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga over his administration’s novel coronavirus response.
During four days of budget committee debates inside both chambers of the Diet, Suga came under heavy fire from opposition lawmakers for not acting fast enough to curb the spread of the virus, and for the administration's plans to enact amendments to disease control legislation that would have laid criminal punishments on people and businesses who flout COVID-19 guidelines. Ultimately, the opposition's arguments found more support, and the ruling coalition eventually agreed Thursday to drop the provisions on criminal punishment, while keeping in place stipulations for fines.
Suga's exhaustion during a trying week was apparent: On Tuesday, his voice became hoarse and his eyes showed signs of fatigue. At times, he raised his voice to protest that his past decisions were made in consultation with experts, even though he admitted he was ultimately responsible for the consequences. At other times, he capitulated while being berated and apologized that an overburdened health care system meant that some COVID-19 patients could not be hospitalized.