まゆの部屋

No poll before spring, Aso hints
Makoto Miura / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

WASHINGTON--Prime Minister Taro Aso hinted Friday he would not dissolve the House of Representatives before spring, to allow the government to concentrate on passing the fiscal 2009 budget this fiscal year.

"Considering [the need to introduce] economic stimulus measures, it's important to start [the next fiscal year after passing the budget] by the end of the [current] fiscal year," Aso said at a Washington hotel. "I won't say doing so is all that counts, but it's very important."

Referring to a previous impasse over a budget, Aso described the Diet's failure to approve the budget for fiscal 1994 as "a decisive factor in the worsening of the economy." That budget eventually passed the Diet in June 1994.

While hinting at a dissolution in spring or after, Aso also said dissolving the lower house at the beginning of the next ordinary Diet session to be convened in January could not be ruled out.

"You don't know what will happen in the future. I can't categorically state now that I'll do it [dissolve the lower house] in April," Aso said. "It might come at the beginning [of the ordinary Diet session] after I make the policy speech."

While the ruling bloc requested Aso and Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa have a one-on-one debate about measures that should be taken to shore up the economy, the DPJ suggested that Aso and opposition party leaders instead hold an open meeting.

"I don't understand why a leaders' meeting is OK and a debate isn't," Aso said.

Aso said he would discuss the fiscal 2008 second supplementary budget and the adjournment of the current Diet session with Liberal Democratic Party Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima.

Regarding a proposal to make a one-off flat-sum payment to citizens, Aso said it was up to each municipal government to decide whether to impose an income eligibility cap.

"I guess some municipalities will impose one and some won't," Aso said.

Aso said it would be left to municipalities to decide how or whether to coordinate their measures with those of neighboring municipalities.

"Mayors can discuss the matter with one another," Aso said, referring to the possibility that neighboring municipalities might rethink their plans if they are found to differ.

(Nov. 16, 2008)