Amid the 500.com bribery scandal currently enveloping Japan’s IR industry, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Democratic Party for the People, and Social Democratic Party held a joint cabinet meeting last Friday 10 January.
Of those attending, Hideya Sugio, chairman of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and upper house member, said, “This IR bribery has become a scandal. We need to stop this process that the government is trying to force through.”
The three opposition parties have decided to join with the Japanese Communist Party to submit a bill to abolish the IR Development Act and IR Promotion Act, and have indicated they will proceed with drafting the bill. The bill will be jointly proposed at the beginning of a regular Diet meeting due to be convened on 20 January, and they will urge the ruling party to consider passing it.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on NHK on Sunday, “We will make the necessary preparations legally and with the understanding and trust of the public.”
At a press conference, Yoshihide Suga said, “The necessity of IRs has been discussed many times, including the legal aspects, and we should continue to ensure we realize the effects of an IR facility as soon as possible, and prepare properly.”
The next step is for local governments pursuing an IR to formulate an implementation plan and apply to the national government. The government intends to accept applications between 4 January 2021 and 30 July 2021.
