Fukuoka Mayor Soichiro Takashima said a delay in passing the national budget could affect municipally run projects that rely on central government subsidies. Speaking at a regular press conference on January 21, Takashima responded to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s announcement that the House of Representatives would be dissolved at the start of the ordinary Diet session. While acknowledging that dissolving the lower house is the prime minister’s prerogative, Takashima said he was surprised by the timing. He warned that many local government projects depend on national funding and that if the budget is delayed, municipalities may be unable to execute planned spending even if their own budgets are approved. This could affect projects scheduled to begin in April. Takashima also said snap elections impose heavy administrative burdens and suggested reforms such as digitizing election procedures and introducing electronic voting to reduce costs and labor. Source: NHK News / Fukuoka Channel by Fukuoka City
Photo: Fukuoka Channel by Fukuoka City
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