Aso vows to hold power, defeat DPJ in August general election+

TOKYO, July 21 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday vowed to keep the reins of power by leading
his Liberal Democratic Party to a win over the main opposition Democratic Party
of Japan in next month's general election.

''I decided today to dissolve the House of Representatives and seek a popular
mandate,'' he told a news conference after dissolving the powerful lower house.
''That is in order to make clear which political party protects Japan and
protects the people's lives, to make clear the responsibility of politics,''
said the prime minister, who doubles as LDP president.
At the same time, he apologized for turmoil in his party that erupted among
party lawmakers discontent with his leadership following the party's crushing
defeat in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election earlier this month.
''I caused the people to have mistrust because I was not good enough,'' he
said, adding that he is resolved to fulfill his responsibility by humbly
reflecting on his shortcomings.
As a campaign pledge, Aso promised to revive the economy and realize a ''secure
society'' in which the young can have hope and seniors can feel secure. ''If I
cannot fulfill this promise, I will take responsibility.''
Aso also stressed the need to implement ''drastic'' tax reform, referring to a
consumption tax hike to finance social security and efforts to increase the
birthrate following economic recovery.
''No one likes a tax increase,'' Aso said. ''But more importantly, I do not
believe we can leave our generation's debts to our children and
grandchildren.''
The long-ruling LDP is behind the DPJ in opinion polls, which suggest that its
coalition bloc, formed with the smaller New Komeito party, may well lose a
majority in the lower house, which elects the prime minister.
Aso declined to say how many seats he hopes his party will win to declare a
victory, saying, ''It would be foolhardy to mention it lightly.''
Meanwhile, DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama said the same day that he is resolved that
his party will at least secure a majority in the 480-seat lower house in the
next election together with other opposition parties.
In the lower house, the LDP had 303 seats and New Komeito 31 at the time of the
dissolution, totaling 334 as a ruling coalition. In contrast, the DPJ had 112
seats, the Japanese Communist Party nine, the Social Democratic Party seven and
the People's New Party five.
The general election will be held Aug. 30, with the official campaign slated to
begin Aug. 18.
==Kyodo
2009-07-21 22:44:08