Japan`s Aso Sets Lower House Election for Aug. 30

Tokyo, July 14 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and
senior ruling coalition officials on Monday agreed that the House of
Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of parliament, will be
dissolved as early as on July 21 for a snap election on Aug. 30.
Explaining the decision, Aso told reporters that he wants to seek
voters' judgment on his government now that many important bills, including
the full state budget and a supplementary budget for fiscal 2009, have been
enacted.
In the Lower House election, he wants voters to judge which party
is capable of protecting Japanese people and the country.
But Aso's decision on the Lower House breakup may have come too
late.
He has been signaling his readiness to dissolve the Lower House
since taking office last September. Now, the embattled prime minister seems
to be paying a price for his delayed decision.
His ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered a crushing defeat in
Sunday's Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, ceding the No. 1 position in
the assembly to the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan.
Aso, also president of the LDP, said the election setback reflects
voters' criticism of himself and the LDP.
Meanwhile, Aso's own remarks and actions exemplifying his lack of
leadership have undoubtedly hurt public confidence in the ruling coalition
of the LDP and New Komeito.
By calling an election, Aso apparently wants to rein in calls
within the LDP to pick a new party leader to replace him before the general
election.
But he was unable to go ahead with his initial plan to set the
Lower House poll for early August, apparently bowing to opposition from
ruling bloc lawmakers, sources familiar with the situation said.
Meanwhile, momentum appears to be building for the DPJ to seize
power from the ruling bloc through the coming national election.
On Monday, the DPJ and three other opposition parties jointly
submitted a no-confidence motion against Aso's cabinet to the Lower House
and a censure motion against the prime minister to the House of Councillors,
the upper chamber. The two motions are slated to be put to vote on Tuesday.
The Lower House, which is now dominated by the LDP-New Komeito
coalition, is certain to vote down the no-confidence motion.
But the opposition-controlled Upper House is seen passing the
censure motion.
While refusing to take part in further parliamentary deliberations
on pending bills, including a bill authorizing inspections of ships related
to North Korea, the four parties are demanding that Aso immediately dissolve
the Lower House for a snap election.
The DPJ does not want to give the LDP time to choose a new party
leader before the general election as it wants to take advantage of the low
public support for Aso's cabinet, officials said.
The ship inspection bill now seems certain to be killed in line
with the Lower House dissolution.