Short of a majority in the Lower House, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition is concentrating its efforts on passing its budget by March 2 to give Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba much-needed oxygen and help him navigate the latter half of the parliamentary session slated to last until June 22.

The budget for a new fiscal year automatically becomes law 30 days after its approval in the Lower House, according to Japan¡¯s Constitution, regardless of the outcome of debates in the upper chamber of parliament.

Negotiations over the minority government¡¯s proposed budget for fiscal 2025 reached a turning point Friday, with the ruling coalition expediting discussions to secure external approval and the opposition eager to leave its own mark in the debate.