The government on Monday submitted to the Diet an ¥88 trillion budget for fiscal 2009 — the biggest initial budget in history — to stimulate the sagging economy.

The government and Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc hope to proceed with Diet deliberations on the budget as soon as possible.

The opposition parties, however, have been arguing the Diet should wait until after the second extra budget for fiscal 2008, currently under deliberation in the Upper House, is dealt with.