Non - Confidence Motion Submitted Against Suga
Japanese opposition parties in the Lower House of the Diet submitted a non-confidence motion on Tuesday morning against Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide's Cabinet.
The leaders of four opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party, agreed on Monday to introduce the motion.
The move came after the opposition's request for a three-month extension to the current Diet session had been rejected by Suga's government and governing parties.
The non-confidence motion says Suga's Cabinet failed to adequately respond to the coronavirus pandemic and forced many people into financial difficulties.
The motion also says it is unacceptable that the Cabinet is trying to press ahead with the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. It says the Cabinet is unwilling to be accountable to the public.
This is the first non-confidence motion submitted against Suga's Cabinet.
The CDP's Diet affairs chief, Azumi Jun, told reporters that the Suga administration's failure in coronavirus response and insufficient economic measures all call for a non-confidence motion.
He said his party will be ready if the Lower House is dissolved in response to the submission of the motion.
Ruling party lawmakers plan to vote down the motion. They say there is no reason for the Cabinet to face a non-confidence motion.
The current Diet session is scheduled to end on Wednesday.