LDP must aim to be leading party in Tokyo assembly election: Aso

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TOKYO, July 3 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Taro Aso said Friday his ruling Liberal Democratic Party must
aim to remain the leading party in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly following
the July 12 election, campaigning for which began the same day.
While stating that he is not in a position to set a ''political victory line''
in the local election, Aso, who is also LDP president, told reporters ''it is
natural'' for the ruling party to seek to maintain its position as the leading
party.
Aso also said he thinks the Tokyo assembly election is unlikely to affect the
forthcoming general election that must be held by October, despite a widespread
belief to the contrary.
Earlier Friday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told reporters,
''Basically, the target for the LDP and the New Komeito party is to win a
majority'' in the local election.
The ruling bloc had 80 of the 127 assembly seats, but the opposition Democratic
Party of Japan is also pushing to become the main party.
Meanwhile, Shigeru Ishiba, agriculture minister, told reporters that while the
ruling parties should accept the election result in a humble manner, ''it will
not necessarily affect national politics,'' warning against moves within the
LDP to have Aso step down if the party loses the local election.
==Kyodo
2009-07-03 23:03:11