February 25, 2026

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira, at a press conference in the Diet building on February 24, said that Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae should submit a bill to reduce the consumption tax rate and discuss it at meetings of the Diet and not at those of a “National Council”.

Earlier on the same day, at a House of Representatives plenary meeting, PM Takaichi, regarding the plan to lower the consumption tax rate on food for two years, indicated her intent to prioritize discussions at meetings of the council over those at the Diet. She made this remark in response to Centrist Reform Alliance head Ogawa Junya.

However, the “National Council” which PM Takaichi aims to establish is vague in many respects, such as whether council discussions will be open and whether minutes will be taken.

Koike noted that PM Takaichi explains that the council will be set up with all-party participation. However, he pointed out, while the “Team Mirai” party opposing the sales tax cut is invited, the JCP calling for the abolition of that tax is excluded. He criticized PM Takaichi for forming the council only with political parties that agree to preserve the consumption tax.

Koike said, “PM Takaichi during the February 8 general election campaign said that a cut in the consumption tax rate is her earnest desire and promised to realize the tax cut by the end of FY 2026.” He demanded that PM Takaichi introduce a bill to this effect and conduct Diet discussions.