Key Facts
• June 21: Opposition parties proposed repealing the gasoline tax surcharge.
• Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) refused to hold a vote in the Senate Finance Committee.
• Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, criticized the LDP’s decision.
• Tamaki called the LDP’s actions a “cowardly evasion” to avoid public backlash.
• The bill’s rejection prevents a potential 25.1 yen/liter gasoline price reduction.
• Tamaki urged voters to express their judgment in the July Senate elections.
Summary
Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, condemned the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for rejecting a vote on the gasoline tax surcharge repeal bill on June 21. The bill, proposed by seven opposition parties, aimed to reduce gasoline prices by 25.1 yen per liter. Tamaki criticized the LDP’s refusal to vote as a “cowardly evasion” to avoid appearing opposed to price reductions. He emphasized that the LDP’s actions effectively buried the bill and called on citizens to voice their opinions in the upcoming July Senate elections.
