(Update) Main Opposition CDP Decides to Skip No-Confidence Motion

   Tokyo, June 19 (Jiji Press)--The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has decided to forgo a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's cabinet in the ongoing ordinary session of the Diet, which ends on Sunday, CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda said Thursday.
   The decision effectively rules out the possibility of an election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, being held on the same day as the triennial election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber, expected to be held on July 20.
   On Thursday, Noda attended a meeting of ruling and opposition party leaders on the ongoing Japan-U.S. tariff negotiations, and later told a press conference that the prime minister is "the very person negotiating with U.S. President (Donald) Trump."
   Noda, a former prime minister, also cited the intensifying Iran-Israel conflict, and said, "We shouldn't create a political vacuum when there are issues regarding crisis management."
   At the meeting, Ishiba, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party reported that he was unable to reach a tariff deal with Trump when the two met in Canada this week. Noting that Japan's national interests are at stake in the negotiations, the prime minister asked for opposition parties' cooperation.

(2025/06/19-20:52)

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