Noda:General election should precede tax hike

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda says he will seek a public mandate for a proposed consumption tax hike in a general election after enacting relevant legislation.

Noda was speaking to reporters on Thursday in Cannes, the venue of the ongoing G20 summit.

Noda said he wants to have the tax rate increase enacted at an ordinary Diet session next year, and then hold a general election before it is implemented.

The 2 largest opposition parties are calling on Noda to dissolve the Lower House of the Diet and hold the election before submitting the bills to the Diet.

Noda also called on his ruling Democratic Party to reach an accord on whether Japan should join talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement. He said the government intends to make a final decision as soon as the debate within the party comes to a conclusion.

Friday, November 04, 2011 09:46 +0900 (JST)