Kan suggests DPJ may seek new coalition framework after election+

TORONTO, June 27 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Naoto Kan suggested Saturday his Democratic Party of Japan may
seek a new coalition framework if the ruling bloc fails to maintain a majority
after the upcoming upper house election.
If the ruling coalition loses its majority it ''would face a difficult
situation in managing government. It would become necessary (for the DPJ) to
hold talks with other parties,'' Kan told reporters in Toronto, where he is
attending a summit of the Group of 20 advanced and major developing economies.
The coalition of the DPJ and its smaller partner, the People's New Party, is
aiming to retain its majority in the House of Councillors in the July 11
election, when half of the chamber's 242 seats will be up for grabs.
The ruling bloc will retain control of the chamber if it wins a total of 56
seats in the election. Kan reiterated that the DPJ is basically aiming to
secure at least 54 seats on its own, the same number the party held before
official campaigning began Thursday.
Asked how he would react if the DPJ missed the target, Kan only said, ''I'll do
my best and let God do the rest.'' The prime minister also declined to comment
on whether he would reshuffle his Cabinet after the election.
Kan has proposed launching a debate on comprehensive tax reform in Japan
involving both the ruling and opposition camps with an eye to raising the
country's sales tax rate from the current 5 percent.
''I would like to make the proposal again after the upper house election, and
if it gains approval, we would like to start discussions early,'' Kan said.
While mentioning his resolve to restore Japan's fiscal health, Kan indicated
that he could start to cut government spending on the salaries of public
servants.
==Kyodo
2010-06-27 22:33:56


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