Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Wednesday a plan to provide 100,000 yen to students who have been severely affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic as part of the government's economic measures.
The second Kishida Cabinet was inaugurated Wednesday night following an imperial investiture, in which the Emperor appointed the prime minister as designated by the Diet, and a ministerial attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace.
After launching the Cabinet, Kishida held a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office where he announced the plan to compile an economic package worth tens of trillions of yen by the end of next week.
In addition to needy households, Kishida also pledged to make students who are in a difficult economic situation due to the pandemic eligible for an emergency handout of 100,000 yen to help them continue their studies.
For business operators, Kishida said the government plans to provide lump-sum benefits for five months from November to March, depending on the size of the business. This financial aid is expected to be comparable to last year's benefits for them to stay in business.
The government and the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito intend to hold another extraordinary Diet session in early December to enact a supplementary budget for fiscal 2021, which includes funding for the economic package, by the end of this year.
Kishida also expressed an intention to accelerate discussions on amending the Constitution, vowing to "reinforce the system within the party" to proceed toward revision.
"We will promote politics in a careful and tolerant manner, while establishing trust and empathy with the people," Kishida said. "This is the only way to maintain the public mandate. I will manage the government with this renewed resolve."
Ahead of the inauguration of the Cabinet, Kishida, who is also the LDP president, held a meeting with Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi at which they confirmed that their parties will maintain the ruling coalition.
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