【報ステ解説】党内から慎重論も出ているのになぜ？野党欠席の中…“強行”連発【報道ステーション】(2026年6月30日)

With just over two weeks remaining until the end of the current Diet session, the government and ruling party continued to force through deliberations on the 30th in an attempt to implement Prime Minister Takaichi's pet policies, only intensifying opposition from the opposition parties. ■ "Crime of Damaging the National Flag" Bill Passed Without All Opposition Parties' Attempt In the final stages of the Diet session, "official authority" is being used repeatedly. In Nagatacho (Japan's political district), this term refers to the chairman forcing through deliberations using his own authority without obtaining the agreement of the opposition parties. The five opposition parties went together to Speaker Mori, urging him to seriously reflect on the government and ruling party's authoritarian conduct in the Diet. Centrist Reform Coalition, Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kazuhiko Shigetoku: "Regarding the upcoming plenary session, which was forcibly convened through 'official authority,' we would like the Speaker of the House of Representatives to refrain from ringing the bell." Announcer Musashi Tokomura: "The bell for the plenary session has just rung, but the Centrist party remains closed and shows no sign of coming out. Are they planning to be absent?" Ultimately, the plenary session opened with all opposition parties absent. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Eisuke Mori: "We will now discuss the bill concerning punishment for damage to the national flag, etc." The Democratic Party for the People and the Sanseito Party, which jointly submitted the bill, were also absent—an unusual situation. Furthermore, a Liberal Democratic Party member also rose from his seat. Former Foreign Minister Iwaya left the plenary hall before the vote. Liberal Democratic Party, Former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya: "Respect for the national flag should be nurtured naturally, not forced through criminal penalties. As a member of the party, I do not oppose it, but I cannot actively support it either. I abstained." However, the ruling party holds a three-quarters majority in the House of Representatives. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Eisuke Mori: "I ask those in favor to stand. A majority is standing; therefore, this bill has been passed as reported by the committee chairman." So why are the opposition parties so opposed? Democratic Party for the People, Leader Yuichiro Tamaki: (Q. As the sponsor of the "Crime of Damaging the National Flag" bill, how do you explain your absence from the plenary session?) "It's not about this bill itself, but the government and ruling party are breaking the rules of parliamentary operation. This is an action lacking respect for parliamentary democracy. This is something we simply cannot accept." Looking back, the opposition parties' dissatisfaction with the government and ruling party had been gradually increasing through the sudden dissolution of parliament and subsequent budget deliberations. Kazuhiko Shigetoku, Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee, Centrist Reform Alliance "The ruling party is unilaterally refusing to allow the Prime Minister to attend. The government and ruling party continue their refusal to deliberate. This has been going on since the initial budget." In this situation, on the 29th, Chairman Minobe of the Japan Innovation Party, without obtaining the agreement of the opposition parties, unilaterally initiated deliberations on a bill concerning the "reduction of the number of seats," a pet project of his. This made the conflict decisive. ■ The Seat and Sub-Capital Committee "Runs on Fault" At the committee meeting on the 30th, the proceedings continued with all opposition parties absent. Chairman Minobe Hideo "We will now begin the questioning time for the Centrist Reform Alliance and independents." Of course, since there were no centrist members, the questioning did not begin. In the silence, ruling party members spent their time as they pleased. And then... Chairman Hideo Minobe: "This concludes the questioning time for the Centrist Reform Alliance and Independents. We will now begin the questioning time for the Democratic Party for the People and the Independent Club." This time is known as "deadheading" in the Diet. A key characteristic is that although no deliberation takes place, it is counted as "time spent deliberation." On the 30th, approximately 1.5 hours were "deadheaded." Chairman Hideo Minobe: "We will now adjourn today. Thank you for your hard work." A similar scene unfolded in the committee deliberating the "Vice-Capital Bill." Here too, the deliberation proceeded at the discretion of the LDP chairman. Chairman Hideki Niwa: "We are unable to obtain attendance from the Centrist Reform Alliance, Independents, the Democratic Party for the People and the Independent Club, the Sanseito Party, and Team Mirai. We will reluctantly proceed with the proceedings." And about 10 minutes into the "deadheading"... Chairman Hideki ...