Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question related to a Diet matter. At a meeting of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the House of Councillors, the ruling parties proposed an interim report to opposition parties in order to pass the Bill for Partial Amendment of the Act on Punishment of Organized Crimes and Control of Crime Proceeds and Other Laws. The interim report calls for omitting the vote at the Committee and voting for the bill at today’s plenary session. This would be an unprecedented measure. Do you think this is appropriate?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, it is up to the Diet to determine how the Diet deliberations should proceed, and therefore, the Government would like to refrain from making comments. Having said that, the Government has been providing clear and careful explanations to the Diet in order to gain the public’s understanding on the necessity and importance of the bill, as well as the broad support and endorsement of not only members of the ruling parties but also members of the opposition parties. Generally speaking, with respect to bills submitted to the Diet, it should be that decisions are made at the appropriate timing in the course of the discussions among the ruling and opposition parties. Especially with Japan hosting the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in three years, it is an urgent matter that we conclude the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, which will help prevent terrorism and other organized crimes and enable international cooperation to fight against such crimes. In any case, the Government would like to have the bill passed as quickly as possible.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Usually a bill gets voted at the Committee and then at the plenary session. The process being proposed seems like a very forceful way of getting the bill passed. With the elections of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly coming up, what do you think voters will think of this proposal?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This is not a matter on which I should be making comments. The Government has made every effort to provide clear and careful explanations to date.

REPORTER: The Government can very well extend the Diet session to hold more discussions but has opted not to do that. It is very obvious that the Government is eager to close the Diet session early. Can you please share your comments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It was not our wish at all to close the Diet session early. In any case, Diet affairs are decided by the Diet, and this matter will also be decided by the Diet. All Diet members are working hard to get this bill passed during the current session of the Diet.

(Abridged)