The fiscal 2021 budget cleared the House of Representatives on Tuesday, providing temporary relief for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who has been hit by scandals over ethics violations at two ministries and criticism over his coronavirus response.
The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito coalition were in favor of passing the record-shattering ¥106 trillion budget, with the largest component being social welfare at ¥35 trillion. Lower House approval means the budget will be enacted starting April 1 without interruption, owing to the house’s superior status over the House of Councilors.
Opposition parties were against the financial blueprint for the upcoming fiscal year but did not seek to obstruct debate schedules at the Diet, after obtaining concessions over their inquiries into conflicts of interest at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and bribery at the agriculture ministry.