副首都法案“会期末”の採決合意できず…国会最終盤に与野党の攻防続く【報道ステーション】(2026年7月23日)

The Diet session, extended to aim for the passage of the Sub-Capital Bill, effectively ends on the 24th. However, the details remain unclear, and it seems that the specifics will be decided after the bill is passed. The opposition parties have hardened their stance, stating that "there is no way to vote," making the fate of the bill uncertain. ■Details to be "considered by the government" after passage LDP Policy Research Council Chairman, Takayuki Kobayashi "It's not based on the premise of Osaka. That's clear." The biggest issue in the extended Diet session is the "Sub-Capital" bill. The ruling party, which submitted the bill, argues its significance as follows: Bill submitter, LDP House of Representatives member, Kazuo Yanagi "We don't know when a major earthquake directly beneath the capital or a volcanic eruption of Mount Fuji might occur. It is the nation's responsibility to secure an alternative location as quickly as possible." The need to develop a region to back up capital functions in preparation for a major disaster in Tokyo is generally agreed upon by both the ruling and opposition parties. So why is there a division of opinion? The opposition parties point out that the bill's content is still underdeveloped. For example, regarding the costs involved: Constitutional Democratic Party, House of Councillors member Makiko Kishi: "How are you considering the financial scale and funding sources associated with designating a secondary capital?" Bill sponsor, Liberal Democratic Party, House of Representatives member Kazuo Yanagi: "It is difficult to provide details at this time, as this is something the government will consider, including the cost and budget scale." The bill lists the following requirements for a secondary capital: it must be a location that will not be affected by disasters simultaneously with Tokyo, it must already have a certain number of national government offices capable of providing backup functions, and it must have a certain level of population and economic concentration. Constitutional Democratic Party, Senator Makiko Kishi: "Regarding the national government's regional offices, it states that a certain number of regional offices are expected to be located there, but to what extent are these expected?" LDP, former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ichiro Miyashita (sponsor of the bill): "I think the government will consider how much concentration is actually needed to enable prompt backup operations before the drafting of the government ordinance." Constitutional Democratic Party, Senator Makiko Kishi: "The bill assumes a certain level of economic concentration, a certain size of GDP within the area, and a certain size of population concentration, but shouldn't specific figures be provided?" LDP, former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ichiro Miyashita: "I cannot specify the exact criteria at this time, but we will establish a government ordinance based on that idea." Constitutional Democratic Party, Senator Makiko Kishi: "We are currently discussing the law, so if everything is turned into a government ordinance, it will be impossible to participate in the discussion." The details of the sub-capital concept will be decided by a government ordinance. If selected, it will receive deregulation and tax benefits. Osaka, Aichi, and Fukuoka have shown interest. Yoshihiko Yamada, Member of the House of Councillors, Democratic Party for the People: "The probability of a Nankai Trough earthquake, generally speaking, is 60-90% for a magnitude 8 or higher earthquake within 30 years. It could reach up to 90%. Shouldn't high-risk areas be scientifically excluded from the assumptions?" Hitoshi Kikawada, Minister in charge of Regional Revitalization: "How should we consider the disaster risk in the area that will become a secondary capital? We will continue to closely monitor the deliberations in the Diet, and after the bill is passed, the government will take necessary measures." Regarding those deliberations: The ruling party intended to hold a committee vote on the 23rd, but the opposition parties objected, and an agreement could not be reached. The passage of the bill on the 24th, which is effectively the end of the Diet session, is uncertain. ■The fate of the "secondary capital" bill If the bill is passed in the committee on the 24th, the stage will move to the plenary session, but even there, the situation will be very tight. The House of Councillors has 248 seats. Excluding the Speaker who did not vote and Taro Yamamoto, who resigned from his position as a member of parliament, the total number of votes is 246. The majority needed to pass the bill is 124. Can the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin) meet this requirement? The LDP has 101 votes and Ishin has 19, totaling 120, a shortfall of 4 seats. Even if Mirai, which supported the Vice-Capital Bill in the House of Representatives, were to ...