Japan's Party Leaders' Debate to Be Extended to 80 Minutes

In a significant development for Japan's political discourse, ruling and opposition party lawmakers have agreed to extend the upcoming debate of party leaders in the Diet, Japan's parliament, to 80 minutes, up from the standard 45 minutes. This agreement was made between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Diet affairs leader in the House of Councilors and his counterpart at the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP).

Scheduled for Wednesday, the debate will feature LDP President and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba facing off against the leaders of the opposition parties. This extension marks the first time such a debate will be lengthened since February 2003.

Additionally, the Diet affairs chiefs of six parties—including the LDP, coalition partner Komeito, CDP, Nippon Ishin no Kai, the Japanese Communist Party, and the Democratic Party for the People—met on Monday to discuss legislative matters. The opposition has pushed for the extension of the Diet session to facilitate Budget Committee meetings, although LDP Diet affairs leader Tetsushi Sakamoto expressed reservations about this request when addressing reporters.