ID :
39967
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 02:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/39967
The shortlink copeid
Aso likely to seek general election between April and June+
TOKYO, Jan. 10 Kyodo - Prime Minister Taro Aso appears to be aiming for a general election sometime between April and June, as he ruled out Saturday a dissolution of the lower house before the passage of the fiscal 2009 budget and voiced readiness to avoid an election in July as hoped by his coalition partner.
''It would be irresponsible not to lay the groundwork'' for economic measures,
Aso said in an interview with media organizations, reiterating his intention
not to dissolve the House of Representatives before the Diet passage of the
state budget for the fiscal year starting on April 1.
Aso said he needs to see whether the economic measures will be effective in
propping up the economy.
The premier also expressed his intention to take into consideration to some
extent a request from the New Komeito party, the ruling Liberal Democratic
Party's junior coalition partner, to avoid a general election in July, when the
Tokyo prefectural assembly is scheduled to be held.
''As the government and a ruling party, I'm not going to ignore'' New Komeito's
request, he said, adding that this does not mean he will absolutely remove July
from his options on the timing of a lower house election.
''I will choose the best timing for both'' the LDP and New Komeito as they form
the ruling coalition, he said.
On a possible political realignment following the election, Aso said it would
be difficult to form a ''grand coalition'' with the main opposition Democratic
Party of Japan under the current single-seat constituency system for the lower
house.
''Voters will be confused if candidates fight in their local single-seat
constituencies and declare the formation of a grand coalition after the
election,'' Aso said, adding, ''We cannot move forward easily without electoral
reform.''
Aso said he will not rule out holding a second vote in the more powerful lower
house if the opposition-controlled House of Councillors rejects bills related
to a second supplementary budget for the current fiscal year to next March.
On the possibility of any LDP lawmakers voting against the bills, Aso said he
is not expecting such a situation.
The Aso government will be pushed into a corner if 17 or more LDP lawmakers
vote against the bills to block their passage when the ruling parties hold a
second vote, which requires a two-thirds majority for approval.
Meanwhile, Aso said he has no intention of reshuffling his Cabinet or LDP
executives immediately after the fiscal 2009 budget clears the Diet.
The Japanese government submitted the 4.79 trillion yen second extra budget at
the outset of the ongoing regular Diet session Monday.
It includes support measures for households, small businesses and regional
economies hit hard by the current economic slowdown, and features a cash payout
program which would distribute a minimum of 12,000 yen per person.
''It would be irresponsible not to lay the groundwork'' for economic measures,
Aso said in an interview with media organizations, reiterating his intention
not to dissolve the House of Representatives before the Diet passage of the
state budget for the fiscal year starting on April 1.
Aso said he needs to see whether the economic measures will be effective in
propping up the economy.
The premier also expressed his intention to take into consideration to some
extent a request from the New Komeito party, the ruling Liberal Democratic
Party's junior coalition partner, to avoid a general election in July, when the
Tokyo prefectural assembly is scheduled to be held.
''As the government and a ruling party, I'm not going to ignore'' New Komeito's
request, he said, adding that this does not mean he will absolutely remove July
from his options on the timing of a lower house election.
''I will choose the best timing for both'' the LDP and New Komeito as they form
the ruling coalition, he said.
On a possible political realignment following the election, Aso said it would
be difficult to form a ''grand coalition'' with the main opposition Democratic
Party of Japan under the current single-seat constituency system for the lower
house.
''Voters will be confused if candidates fight in their local single-seat
constituencies and declare the formation of a grand coalition after the
election,'' Aso said, adding, ''We cannot move forward easily without electoral
reform.''
Aso said he will not rule out holding a second vote in the more powerful lower
house if the opposition-controlled House of Councillors rejects bills related
to a second supplementary budget for the current fiscal year to next March.
On the possibility of any LDP lawmakers voting against the bills, Aso said he
is not expecting such a situation.
The Aso government will be pushed into a corner if 17 or more LDP lawmakers
vote against the bills to block their passage when the ruling parties hold a
second vote, which requires a two-thirds majority for approval.
Meanwhile, Aso said he has no intention of reshuffling his Cabinet or LDP
executives immediately after the fiscal 2009 budget clears the Diet.
The Japanese government submitted the 4.79 trillion yen second extra budget at
the outset of the ongoing regular Diet session Monday.
It includes support measures for households, small businesses and regional
economies hit hard by the current economic slowdown, and features a cash payout
program which would distribute a minimum of 12,000 yen per person.
