LDP Leader Candidates Discuss Ways to Ensure Political Stability

Tokyo, Sept. 28 (Jiji Press)–Candidates in the leadership election of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party discussed ways to ensure political stability and other issues during televised debates on Sunday. All five candidates said that they would seek to expand the ruling coalition if elected, but there were differences in views over the speed of coalition talks. After the LDP’s leadership vote set for Saturday, an extraordinary parliamentary session is expected to be convened as early as October to elect a successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, 64, said that talks on expanding the coalition need to be completed before parliament holds a vote to elect a new prime minister, she said. Former LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, 69, said that the ruling coalition should be expanded in time for an ordinary parliamentary session that begins in January next year. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 64, said that coalition talks should continue throughout the year if they are not complete before the prime ministerial vote. Agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, said that an expanded coalition will not come out until a relationship of trust is built with a potential new partner. Takayuki Kobayashi, 50, another former economic security minister, said that it is difficult to form a coalition with any party that cannot share policies. Takaichi, Koizumi and Kobayashi said they will consider introducing the combination of income tax deductions and benefits, a proposal from the major opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. Leaders of the LDP, its current coalition partner, Komeito, and the CDP earlier this month agreed to promote talks on the proposal. Takaichi, Kobayashi and Motegi said that a planned income tax increase to fund larger defense spending is unnecessary. Takaichi did not respond directly when asked whether she will continue to visit war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo if she is elected prime minister. “I want to pray from anywhere,” she said. Koizumi and Kobayashi, both of whom also regularly visit the Shinto shrine, said that they will make an appropriate decision on whether to visit it if elected prime minister. ENDND [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]