TOKYO, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso agreed Monday with senior lawmakers of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that the lower house will be dissolved on July 21 for a general election on Aug. 30, Kyodo News reported, quoting LDP officials.
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (C) answers questions of journalists in Tokyo, Japan, July 13, 2009. Aso agreed Monday with senior lawmakers of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that the lower house will be dissolved on July 21 for a general election on Aug. 30. (Xinhua/Pool/Issei Kato) Photo Gallery>>>
Aso's decision was made after LDP was defeated by
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in the key Tokyo assembly election Sunday, which
is widely seen as the bellwether for the general election.
"I want to make utmost efforts to have important
pieces of legislation enacted, including the organ transplant legislation this
week and the cargo inspection legislation," Aso told Cabinet ministers and
senior ruling coalition officials during a liaison meeting, Kyodo quoted Deputy
Chief Cabinet Secretary Jun Matsumotoas saying.
"Having done that, I want to seek the people's
mandate by dissolving the House of Representatives early in the week beginning
July 21. Election Day is August 30," the prime minister was quoted as saying.
The official election campaign will kick off on Aug. 18, according to the schedule.
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso attends a meeting with his cabinet members and coalition party members at the premier's official residence in Tokyo July 13, 2009. Aso is expected to call a general election for August 30, a ruling official told reporters on Monday. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Meanwhile, DPJ and three other opposition parties
jointly submitted a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet in the House of
Representatives. They are expected to submit the motion to the upper house later
in the day.
With the defeat in Tokyo election, Aso now faces
strong pressure within the LDP to hold a presidential election to replace him as
its head prior to the lower house election.
Aso's leadership ability was challenged after a
series of ministerial resignations. There have been voices from some LDP
legislators asking him to step down. However, many analysts believed even
changing the leader could not save LDP's fate in the election.
TOKYO, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic Party of Japan
and three other opposition parties jointly submitted a no-confidence motion
against the Cabinet in the lower house Monday, Kyodo News reported. Full story
TOKYO, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The ruling coalition faces real
challenges as the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) became the leading
party in Sunday's Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, which is seen as a
bellwether for the upcoming general election.
DPJ gained 54 seats out of the total of 127, compared with
38 seats of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The New Komeito party won 23
seats, making the ruling bloc's total seats 61. Full story
TOKYO, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The results of the Tokyo
metropolitan assembly election which is underway Sunday is widely seen as
barometer for embattled Prime Minister Taro Aso to decide when to dissolve the
lower house, observers say.
A total of 221 candidates are vying for the 127 seats,
with the focus on whether the ruling coalition will retain their majority or if
the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will become the leading party,
boosting expectations that it can bring about a change of government by winning
the general election. Full story
