4 senior lawmakers willing to promote realignment

TOKYO, Dec. 14 Kyodo - Four senior lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties indicated their
willingness Sunday to maintain close ties in promoting a political realignment
following the next general election.
The four -- former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Koichi Kato,
former LDP vice president Taku Yamasaki, acting president of the Democratic
Party of Japan Naoto Kan and acting leader of the People's New Party Shizuka
Kamei -- made comments to this effect when they appeared on a TV Asahi program.
On the declining approval rate for the Cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso, Kato
said, ''The historical mission of the LDP has been completed.'' He also said
the four agree that they should review excessive deregulation and address
regional issues.
Yamasaki said a political realignment ''will definitely come'' regardless of
the outcome of the House of Representatives election, which must be held by
next September. ''The four of us could play pivotal roles in an alignment,'' he
said.
Meanwhile, the DPJ's Kan said the four have been in touch with each other to
exchange views on the political situation. He also said he expects some LDP
members to leave the party ''as a trigger in forming a two-party system.''
Kamei stressed the need to form a new party ahead of the general election if
they intend to bring new blood into political circles.
Apparently encouraging the LDP's Kato and Yamasaki, Kamei said, ''The question
is only whether they (lawmakers) have the guts to do so. It is not a difficult
issue in theory.''
Kato, on his part, said he is not currently thinking about leaving the LDP
ahead of the general election.
==Kyodo
2008-12-14 20:12:45