Jun 25 01:33 PM US/Eastern(AP) - TOKYO, June 25 (Kyodo) — Prime Minister Taro Aso on Thursday dismissed the idea of holding a Liberal Democratic Party presidential race in the run-up to a general election, while saying the lower house dissolution will come "in the not-so-distant future."
At a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Aso declined to say when to dissolve the House of Representatives, but he hinted at exploring the possibility of its dissolution in early July for an election on Aug. 2 as some have been speculating.
Some LDP lawmakers call on the premier to dissolve it in early July in order to exhibit his initiative, rather than giving an impression that he is waiting until the time when he has no other choice but dissolution.
On growing moves among LDP lawmakers to hold a party leadership poll to replace him when the national election is due within a few months, Aso, also LDP president, said, "Holding a presidential election again could hurt the public's impression of the LDP." He won the party presidency last September after his predecessor Yasuo Fukuda abruptly stepped down.
In the face of plunging approval ratings for Aso's Cabinet, some LDP members have called for a party presidential election before the general election, with one of them collecting signatures from LDP Diet members.
The election must be held by October as the terms of lower house members are set to expire Sept. 10.
Meanwhile, Aso is considering reshuffling three of the LDP's four key positions ahead of the general election, a ruling party official said later Thursday.
Aso plans to replace Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda, Policy Research Council Chairman Kosuke Hori and General Council Chairman Takashi Sasagawa, the official said. But Aso will have Election Strategy Council Chairman Makoto Koga maintain the post, the official added.
Aso will implement the reshuffle possibly on July 2 if the groundwork for the plan is paved smoothly, the official said.
At the press conference, Aso expressed reluctance about reshuffling his Cabinet, saying, "I don't think I should reshuffle the Cabinet immediately. The Cabinet members are working hard," fending off some opinions within the LDP that the reshuffle is necessary to lift its sluggish support rate.
Aso did not give clear-cut responses to whether he will wait to dissolve the lower house until high-profile bills, including one to revise the Organ Transplant Law and another to enable Japan to inspect North Korean cargo on the high seas, clear the Diet, whose session ends July 28.
"I will monitor how opposition parties respond," Aso said.
Asked what he would do if the LDP fails to win the July 12 Tokyo assembly election, widely considered a preliminary skirmish for the general election, Aso said he would not need to take responsibility even if the party is defeated.
"A local election is a local election. It's different from a national election...I don't think it will influence national politics," Aso said.
Aso reiterated that he alone will decide when to dissolve the lower house regardless of the outcome of the Tokyo assembly election, saying, "I will decide about the dissolution at an appropriate time."
"I was elected (as LDP president) by receiving many votes. I have responsibility to implement the president's obligation," Aso said.
Aso also said what he has to do before the dissolution is to "show the way to realize a secure society."
Meanwhile, Aso again said that raising the 5-percent consumption tax would be necessary to cover the nation's ballooning social security costs.
"We can't avoid the issue of a tax hike in a bid to cover social security costs as they swell by about 1 trillion yen every year," Aso said, adding that the government plans to drastically reform the tax system on the condition of an economic upturn after three years.
"The ruling party can't do such an irresponsible thing as promising to offer services without financial sources," Aso said, criticizing the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which says it will not raise the consumption tax for four years even if it wins power in the upcoming general election.
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