ID :
16396
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 00:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/16396
The shortlink copeid
Extra Diet session to be convened in mid-Sept.: Fukuda
TOKYO, Aug. 19 Kyodo - Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday he will convene the next Diet session in mid-September, hoping to work on such issues as extending Japan's antiterrorism refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.
''I have decided that I'd like to convene (the next Diet session) in mid-September by taking into consideration comprehensively many situations,'' Fukuda told reporters, adding that he would like to set the opening date byearly next week.
Earlier in the day, Fukuda conveyed his decision at a meeting of governmentofficials and senior members of the coalition parties.
Fukuda will decide the exact opening date for the extraordinary session by taking into consideration economic measures and an envisaged bill to set up a consumer agency, ruling coalition party lawmakers who participated in themeeting said.
The date is likely to be either Sept. 12 or Sept. 19 as the Diet is traditionally convened either on a Monday or a Friday, and another Monday, Sept. 15, is a national holiday. ''There is only either (Sept.) 12 or 19,'' Hidehisa Otsuji, head of the Liberal Democratic Party's upper house caucus,told a news conference.
In the meeting, Fukuda presented four issues that need to be addressed in the Diet -- economic measures, international cooperation including the refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations, consumer policy andlegislative items carried over from the previous Diet session.
On economic measures to tackle such problems as soaring oil prices, the prime minister said the government plans to compile a plan within this week and the government and the ruling coalition parties are expected to reach an agreementon the plan next week.
At the meeting, New Komeito party leader Akihiro Ota stressed that talks are necessary between the ruling and opposition parties. He later said these shouldinclude talks between party leaders.
Fukuda told reporters that it is ''a matter of course'' to consult withopposition parties over important issues.
While the New Komeito party, the coalition partner of the LDP, has basically accepted the idea of convening the session in mid-September, the two partiesare still working on setting the date.
Fukuda was considering convening the session in early September, apparently to ensure sufficient time to get Diet approval of an envisioned bill to extend the refueling mission in a second House of Representatives vote should theopposition-controlled House of Councillors refuse to vote on it.
But the New Komeito party, reluctant to take the step of having a second vote,opposed convening the Diet session earlier than usual.
The temporary law authorizing the refueling mission will expire in January.
LDP Secretary General Taro Aso said after the meeting that the ruling coalitionparties will continue making arrangements to decide on the date.
''I have decided that I'd like to convene (the next Diet session) in mid-September by taking into consideration comprehensively many situations,'' Fukuda told reporters, adding that he would like to set the opening date byearly next week.
Earlier in the day, Fukuda conveyed his decision at a meeting of governmentofficials and senior members of the coalition parties.
Fukuda will decide the exact opening date for the extraordinary session by taking into consideration economic measures and an envisaged bill to set up a consumer agency, ruling coalition party lawmakers who participated in themeeting said.
The date is likely to be either Sept. 12 or Sept. 19 as the Diet is traditionally convened either on a Monday or a Friday, and another Monday, Sept. 15, is a national holiday. ''There is only either (Sept.) 12 or 19,'' Hidehisa Otsuji, head of the Liberal Democratic Party's upper house caucus,told a news conference.
In the meeting, Fukuda presented four issues that need to be addressed in the Diet -- economic measures, international cooperation including the refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations, consumer policy andlegislative items carried over from the previous Diet session.
On economic measures to tackle such problems as soaring oil prices, the prime minister said the government plans to compile a plan within this week and the government and the ruling coalition parties are expected to reach an agreementon the plan next week.
At the meeting, New Komeito party leader Akihiro Ota stressed that talks are necessary between the ruling and opposition parties. He later said these shouldinclude talks between party leaders.
Fukuda told reporters that it is ''a matter of course'' to consult withopposition parties over important issues.
While the New Komeito party, the coalition partner of the LDP, has basically accepted the idea of convening the session in mid-September, the two partiesare still working on setting the date.
Fukuda was considering convening the session in early September, apparently to ensure sufficient time to get Diet approval of an envisioned bill to extend the refueling mission in a second House of Representatives vote should theopposition-controlled House of Councillors refuse to vote on it.
But the New Komeito party, reluctant to take the step of having a second vote,opposed convening the Diet session earlier than usual.
The temporary law authorizing the refueling mission will expire in January.
LDP Secretary General Taro Aso said after the meeting that the ruling coalitionparties will continue making arrangements to decide on the date.
