The government submitted to the Diet Monday the fiscal 2009 extra budget bill, which is expected to become the main focus of confrontation between the ruling bloc and opposition parties as the ordinary Diet session nears its end.
Although the fiscal 2009 budget cleared the Diet only a month ago, Prime Minister Taro Aso ordered the extra budget to be drafted to counter the deepening recession.
The government has taken the lead in attempting to boost the economy with a total of ¥75 trillion worth of stimulus packages approved since last year, but the economy continues to deteriorate at a fast rate, Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano said in a speech at the Lower House plenary session.