On the night of the 13th, Japan's House of Representatives approved the initial budget proposal for the fiscal year 2026 with a majority from the ruling party. The proposal has now been sent to the Senate for discussion starting on the 16th. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aims for its passage within the year; however, the ruling party's aggressive approach has led to a significant reduction in deliberation time, resulting in intense criticisms from opposition parties who have now hardened their positions after initially agreeing to a bipartisan deal last year.

The approved budget totals over ¥122 trillion, marking the largest in history. The deliberations in the House were delayed by about a month following a surprising dissolution of the House of Representatives by the Prime Minister, which, coupled with the opposition's calls for a provisional budget until the initial budget is established, has added to the contentious atmosphere. The deliberation time in the House remained at a record low of just 59 hours, the shortest in two decades, and several key discussions typically held with the presence of ministers were omitted, further exemplifying the rushed nature of the process.

As discussions progress in the Senate, where the ruling party does not hold a majority, both the lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party have agreed on a plan to engage in substantial discussions. However, with such tight scheduling and the potential for backlash from an empowered opposition, the prospect of passing the budget by the end of the fiscal year remains highly uncertain, placing the government under pressure as it navigates through this politically charged landscape.