Aso dismisses idea of holding LDP presidential race before election

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TOKYO, June 25 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Taro Aso on Thursday dismissed the idea of holding a Liberal
Democratic Party presidential race in the run-up to a general election, saying
it would cause great damage to the ruling party.
With the national election due within a few months, ''holding a presidential
election again could hurt the public's impression of the LDP,'' said Aso, who
won the party presidency last September.
The prime minister, who doubles as LDP president, made the comments during a
press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo in response to a
question concerning growing moves among LDP lawmakers to hold a leadership poll
to replace him.
With plunging approval ratings for Aso's Cabinet, some LDP members have called
for an LDP presidential election before the general election, with one of them
collecting signatures from LDP Diet members.
On the timing of the lower house dissolution, Aso said, ''I can't say when, but
it will come in the not-so-distant future.'' Speculation has been growing that
the House of Representatives will be dissolved in early July for an election on
Aug. 2.
The election must be held by October as the terms of lower house members are
set to expire on Sept. 10.
Aso also expressed reluctance about reshuffling his Cabinet, saying, ''I don't
think I should reshuffle the Cabinet immediately.''
Asked what he would do if the LDP fails to win the July 12 Tokyo assembly
election, widely considered a preliminary skirmish for the general election,
Aso said he would not need to take responsibility even if the party is
defeated.
''A local election is a local election. It is different from a national
election...I do not think it will influence national politics,'' Aso said.
Aso reiterated that he alone will decide when to dissolve the lower house
regardless of the outcome of the Tokyo assembly election, saying, ''I will
decide about the dissolution at an appropriate time.''
==Kyodo
2009-06-25 21:25:05