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Japan PM, main opposition trade jibes as poll looms
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and his main opposition rival traded jibes in parliament on Tuesday as they sought to woo voters ahead of a possible snap election.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:07 October 2, 2008
Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and his main opposition rival traded jibes in parliament on Tuesday as they sought to woo voters ahead of a possible snap election.
Democratic Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, charging the ruling party had lost its ability to govern after two premiers quit in a year, called for an early election to seek the people's will.
In remarks that also outlined his own party's platform, Ozawa pledged to cut gasoline taxes, strengthen social safety nets and eliminate the wasteful spending he said was the hallmark of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Slander accusation
"If the ruling parties have lost the ability to govern, it is logical in a parliamentary democracy to hand over government to the opposition and call an election," Ozawa said in a speech in which he also accused Aso of "slandering" the Democratic Party.
Aso, who blasted the Democrats on Monday in his first policy statement since taking office last week, has been expected to call a lower house poll for as early as next month to try to break a political stalemate that is stalling government policies.
Aso hit back hard, accusing the Democrats of being irresponsible by blocking key Bills in parliament, where the opposition controls the upper house and can delay legislation.
'My decision'
"I firmly believe that it is the [ruling] Liberal Democratic Party [LDP] that has the ability to run the administration and be responsible for the future of Japan," Aso said.
"I will decide myself when to call an election."
Analysts say the Democrats and its allies have a shot at ousting the LDP in the next lower house poll, but a more likely outcome is that decisive victory eludes both. Last week, Aso said he wanted to pass key laws first, a sign he might be growing wary of an election amid fears about fallout from the US financial crisis.
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