Japan's Diet extends session to July 25 amid debate on vice‑capital bill

The Japanese National Diet voted to extend the current parliamentary session by eight days, moving the scheduled end from July 17 to July 25. The extension, approved by the House of Representatives, was driven by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partners, who seek additional time to consider the controversial "vice‑capital" bill that would designate a secondary capital region.

Opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party, questioned whether the shortened time frame—effectively three days—allows sufficient debate. They have demanded conditions such as a witness‑questioning session and a detailed cost estimate before the bill proceeds. Meanwhile, on July 24, the House of Representatives will hold a concentrated budget committee meeting attended by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, where a secretarial statement concerning a defamatory video report may be submitted.