Aso seeks to step up cooperation with New Komeito toward election

TOKYO, Sept. 23 Kyodo - Newly-elected Liberal Democratic Party President Taro Aso vowed Tuesday to step up cooperation with the New Komeito party, the LDP's coalition partner, toward an expected House of Representatives election after the two parties' relationship became awkward under his predecessor Yasuo Fukuda.
Aso, who is certain to be elected Japan's prime minister to succeed Fukuda at
the Diet on Wednesday, made the pledge at New Komeito's party convention in
Tokyo, at which the uncontested reelection of Akihiro Ota as party chief was
formally endorsed.
Ota, for his part, played down concerns over Aso's hawkish image, stressing at
a press conference after the convention that he expects Aso to ''promote good
diplomacy'' based on his experience as foreign minister.
New Komeito's policies are seen as having been closer to those of Fukuda, who
was known for his dovish stance of promoting amicable relations with Japan's
Asian neighbors.
Later in the day, Aso and Ota confirmed at a meeting they would maintain the
ruling coalition, while also agreeing on basic policies they plan to pursue,
including a review of an unpopular healthcare insurance program for people aged
75 or older.
Tensions were created between the two parties in the closing days of the Fukuda
administration, especially over differences in election strategy, prompting
speculation that discord in the coalition had pressured Fukuda into deciding to
step down.
Noting that the two parties have worked together as coalition partners for
about 10 years, Aso, attending the convention as a guest, said, ''Upon the
relations of trust which we have created until now...we must build firmer trust
and a mature relationship.''
''In the general election, I would like to seek victory by joining hands,'' he
said.
Ota, echoing Aso, said that New Komeito will ''do everything in its power to
gain a majority (in the election) for the LDP and the New Komeito party.''
New Komeito, which is backed by the major lay Buddhist organization Soka
Gakkai, has provided the LDP with a powerful vote-gathering machine in
elections.
Ota, who became chief representative of New Komeito in September 2006, was
assured of reelection on Sept. 16 for another two-year term after no one else
filed candidacy in the party leadership race.
Ota decided to retain key party executives such as Secretary General Kazuo
Kitagawa and policy chief Natsuo Yamaguchi.
No general election needs to be held until the current terms of members of the
lower house expire in September 2009. But the ruling parties are eyeing an
early election to take advantage of what they hope will be a boost in public
support for the new administration under its newly elected leader.
The election will be a crucial one, with the ruling parties fearful of losing
their overwhelming majority in the lower house and of falling from power if
they are defeated by the opposition bloc led by the Democratic Party of Japan,
which controls the House of Councillors.
Aso, who was elected as LDP president on Monday, will be chosen as Japan's new
prime minister in a parliamentary vote Wednesday, given the LDP's majority in
the lower house, which has the final say in choosing the country's leader. A
new Cabinet is expected to be launched the same day.