The government emphasizes that the draft budget of the General Account for the fiscal 2025 is compiled to achieve ‘a growth-locomoting economy through wage hikes and investments.’ But, in fact, it will surge the consumption tax rate and facilitate investments in building up military strength and financially assisting Big Businesses. It is a harsh budget plan for ordinary people to lead a decent life.
MAIN PILLARS – MILITARY BUILDING-UP AND PREFERENCE OF BIG BUSINESSES
Lowering consumption tax rate is necessary
The draft budget compiled by the government counts \115 trillion 541.5 billion, which is increased by approximately \3 trillion from that of the initial budget of the fiscal 2024, being the largest in history.
Revenue is estimated as \78 trillion 440 billion from tax collection, which is much bigger than that of the previous figure, \73 trillion 435 billion, which is calculated together with the additional figure of supplementary budget. The main reason of the bigger revenue lies in the fact that it will grow if prices are rising, a pertinent structure to the consumption tax.
Revenue from the consumption tax is valued as \24 trillion 908 billion, with an increase by \565 billion, if compared with the last fiscal’s figure after being adjusted with the supplementary budget. People’s life is severely hit, which makes them exhausted, due to the price surges and the heavier burden of this tax. The opposition political parties must present a bill to diminish the consumption tax rate.
Oppose huge military build-up!
Concerning the military budget (in the narrower term), \8 trillion 700.5 billion is allocated with an increase by 9.4% of the initial budget of the last fiscal. This is a consecutive eleventh surge in the amount, the largest in history.
The fiscal 2025 represents the third year of the five-year span during which in total over \43 trillion will be appropriated for developing military strength. One of the characteristic items is earlier groundwork of the capabilities to attack enemy bases. The government has allocated \16.8 billion for obtaining new ship-launched 12-type guided missile warheads, following mass production of long-range missiles. In addition, another \29.7 billion is allocated for research of a firing system to be mounted on submarines with an objective of diversifying the launching platforms.
This kind of military development will trigger a risk of war with China on account of distrust, following the generated national security dilemma (a negative chain of military expansion).
Investments in semi-conductor sector
The Ishiba government continues to commit in the semi-conductor and AI industries and boost investment efforts. Last autumn the government announced the ‘comprehensive economic measures’ in which it plans to officially assist these areas, spending over \10 trillion in the seven-year span. In the supplementary budget approximately \1.5 trillion was allocated. In addition, another \332.8 billion was calculated for these industries in the initial budget compilation for the fiscal 2025.
In particular, the government will intensify assistance to Rapidus Corporation, a semi-conductor manufacturer. The company was founded in August two years ago with participation of eight Japanese companies, including Toyota, Sony, and MUFG Bank, Ltd. They jointly invest with an aim to produce domestically the latest semi-conductors. The government is to invest \100 billion to Rapidus Corporation, being practically the biggest shareholder.
People’s life must be of first priority
The draft budget is to commit in the military build-up program and invest in the gigantic enterprises. In the sector of social services, which is essential, a sum of \130 billion is cut off the natural growth portion, \650 billion. The Ishiba administration governs the country to the detriment of people’s life, expressing ‘a growth-locomoting economy’.
We, the New Socialist Party, oppose the draft budget for the fiscal 2025, demanding the government to change the financial structure so that it will sustain people’s livelihood.
25年度政府一般会計予算案は、「賃上げと投資をけん引する成長型経済」への移行を掲げる。だが、実体は消費税負担を増大させ、軍拡と巨大企業へ財政投入する庶民生活に冷たい予算である。
消費税率引下げを
政府予算案は１１５兆５４１５億円で昨年度当初予算から約３兆円超え、過去最大規模となった。
歳入では税収を78兆４４００億円と見積もり、24年度補正後の73兆４３５０億円を大きく上回る。税収増の大きな理由に、物価が上がれば税収が増える消費税の仕組みがある。
その消費税収は24年度補正後比５６５０億円増の24兆９０８０億円を見込む。庶民の生活は、物価高と消費税負担増で疲弊するばかり。野党は消費税率引下げ法案を通常国会に提出すべきである。
大軍拡に強く反対
軍事費（狭義）には24年度当初比９・４％増の８兆７００５億円を計上した。11年連続での過去最大金額である。
25年度は、「防衛力の抜本的強化」を掲げ５年間で43兆円超を投じる大軍拡の３年度目。特徴の一つが敵基地攻撃能力の早期整備。長射程ミサイルの量産に着手し、新たに艦艇発射型12式誘導弾の取得に１６８億円を計上。更に発射プラットフォームの多様化を目的に、潜水艦搭載可能な発射システムの研究費に２９７億円を充てた。 大軍拡は中国との「安全保障のジレンマ」（軍備増強の負の連鎖）を生み、相互不信による戦争のリスクを高める。
半導体へ財政投入
石破政権は、半導体やＡＩ産業へのテコ入れを継続・強化する。昨年秋策定の「総合経済対策」では７年間で10兆円以上の公的支援実施を打ち出し、補正予算で約１兆５千億円を計上。加えて25年度当初予算案で３３２８億円を組んだ。
とりわけ半導体メーカーのラピダスへの支援を強める。ラピダスは一昨年８月にトヨタ、ソニー、三菱ＵＦＪ銀行など国内８社が共同出資して設立され、先端半導体の国産化をめざす。このラピダスへ政府として１０００億円を出資し、実質最大株主となる。
庶民の生活が第一
政府予算案は、軍拡と巨大企業支援に財政投入するもの。必須の社会保障費では自然増６５００億円のうち１３００億円を削減した。石破政権が掲げる「成長型経済」は、庶民の生活を踏み台にするものでしかない。
私たちは、この25年度予算案に反対し、庶民生活を支える財政構造への転換を強く求める。
英訳版↓
The government emphasizes that the draft budget of the General Account for the fiscal 2025 is compiled to achieve ‘a growth-locomoting economy through wage hikes and investments.’ But, in fact, it will surge the consumption tax rate and facilitate investments in building up military strength and financially assisting Big Businesses. It is a harsh budget plan for ordinary people to lead a decent life.
MAIN PILLARS – MILITARY BUILDING-UP AND PREFERENCE OF BIG BUSINESSES
Lowering consumption tax rate is necessary
The draft budget compiled by the government counts \115 trillion 541.5 billion, which is increased by approximately \3 trillion from that of the initial budget of the fiscal 2024, being the largest in history.
Revenue is estimated as \78 trillion 440 billion from tax collection, which is much bigger than that of the previous figure, \73 trillion 435 billion, which is calculated together with the additional figure of supplementary budget. The main reason of the bigger revenue lies in the fact that it will grow if prices are rising, a pertinent structure to the consumption tax.
Revenue from the consumption tax is valued as \24 trillion 908 billion, with an increase by \565 billion, if compared with the last fiscal’s figure after being adjusted with the supplementary budget. People’s life is severely hit, which makes them exhausted, due to the price surges and the heavier burden of this tax. The opposition political parties must present a bill to diminish the consumption tax rate.
Oppose huge military build-up!
Concerning the military budget (in the narrower term), \8 trillion 700.5 billion is allocated with an increase by 9.4% of the initial budget of the last fiscal. This is a consecutive eleventh surge in the amount, the largest in history.
The fiscal 2025 represents the third year of the five-year span during which in total over \43 trillion will be appropriated for developing military strength. One of the characteristic items is earlier groundwork of the capabilities to attack enemy bases. The government has allocated \16.8 billion for obtaining new ship-launched 12-type guided missile warheads, following mass production of long-range missiles. In addition, another \29.7 billion is allocated for research of a firing system to be mounted on submarines with an objective of diversifying the launching platforms.
This kind of military development will trigger a risk of war with China on account of distrust, following the generated national security dilemma (a negative chain of military expansion).
Investments in semi-conductor sector
The Ishiba government continues to commit in the semi-conductor and AI industries and boost investment efforts. Last autumn the government announced the ‘comprehensive economic measures’ in which it plans to officially assist these areas, spending over \10 trillion in the seven-year span. In the supplementary budget approximately \1.5 trillion was allocated. In addition, another \332.8 billion was calculated for these industries in the initial budget compilation for the fiscal 2025.
In particular, the government will intensify assistance to Rapidus Corporation, a semi-conductor manufacturer. The company was founded in August two years ago with participation of eight Japanese companies, including Toyota, Sony, and MUFG Bank, Ltd. They jointly invest with an aim to produce domestically the latest semi-conductors. The government is to invest \100 billion to Rapidus Corporation, being practically the biggest shareholder.
People’s life must be of first priority
The draft budget is to commit in the military build-up program and invest in the gigantic enterprises. In the sector of social services, which is essential, a sum of \130 billion is cut off the natural growth portion, \650 billion. The Ishiba administration governs the country to the detriment of people’s life, expressing ‘a growth-locomoting economy’.
We, the New Socialist Party, oppose the draft budget for the fiscal 2025, demanding the government to change the financial structure so that it will sustain people’s livelihood.
January 15, 2025