Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama held the second meeting of the Local Sovereignty Strategy Council at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussions took place on the two bills related to local sovereignty reforms and ways to proceed, among other matters.

In his opening address, Prime Minister Hatoyama said, "In accordance with the so-called Haraguchi Plan by Minister Haraguchi, we will actively seek to enact the Local Sovereignty Strategy Council into law, review obligations (gimuzuke) and frameworks (wakuzuke) [imposed by the central government on the regions as a condition for granting subsidies], and stipulate by law a forum for dialogue between national and regional governments. I call upon you to make efforts with the understanding that this council holds great significance in fundamentally changing the relationship between the government and the regions."