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Japan PM says parliamentary turmoil would force poll

BANGKOK: Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said on Saturday that he would have to call a snap general election if the opposition threw parliament into turmoil again and foil his attempt to enact a huge pump-priming budget.

"The biggest task for our government now is to pass the budget as soon as possible. But if such attempts are blocked, I would have no option but to seek a public judgment," Obuchi told reporters travelling with him on a government plane from Tokyo to Bangkok.

Opposition parties agreed on Tuesday to return to parliament, ending a two-week boycott that had stalled debate on huge 85 trillion yen ($784.7 billion) budget for next fiscal year from April 1.

The boycott was triggered by the government's decision to use its majority to ram a seat-cutting bill through parliament. The opposition says the cut favours bigger parties.

But some analysts and politicians believe Obuchi, whose popularity has been sliding in recent months, could dissolve the powerful Lower House of parliament and call an early general election in April soon after passage of the budget.

Japan must hold general elections by October, but the prime minister has the authority to call a snap poll at any time.

Obuchi said on Saturday that he was placing top priority on passing the state budget quickly to pull the economy out of its worst post-war recession.

"Fortunately, parliament has returned to normal. I hope parliamentary deliberations on the budget will proceed smoothly," he said.

The opposition pressed for an early general election, arguing that Obuchi's three-party coalition government had lost the people's trust.

Some observers believe that holding general elections in April, just after the budget is passed, would work to the government's advantage by showing it is making efforts to improve the flagging economy.

Political analysts also say Obuchi may still want to use the opportunity of the July Group of Eight summit in Japan to boost his standing before calling an election.

Obuchi arrived in Bangkok on Saturday for a two-day visit to attend the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development summit.

On the sidelines of the U.N. gathering, Obuchi plans to meet leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to solicit their views of the agenda for the Japan summit. -Reuters