April 16, 2010
Tokyo, April 16 (Jiji Press) -- Japan's National Policy Minister Yoshito Sengoku on Friday hinted at a possibility of a double election being held if Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama quits before this summer's election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament.
During the recording of a television program, Sengoku, a House of Representatives lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, suggested that an election for the powerful Lower House could be held alongside the summer Upper House poll.
Before taking power in last summer's Lower House election, the DPJ criticized the Liberal Democratic Party, which had long been in power until its defeat in the election, for frequently changing its president and therefore Japan's prime minister without dissolving the Lower House for a snap election.
Against this backdrop, Sengoku apparently believes that if Hatoyama steps down, the Lower House should be dissolved and a snap election should be held to seek the judgment of voters.
Sengoku is a key member in the Hatoyama government, and his reference to a possible early breakup of the Lower House may cause controversy.
(2010/04/16-21:44)
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