Kan extends olive branch on big issues

The Daily Yomiuri

Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday expressed his determination to secure cooperation from opposition parties to pass important bills designed to help the nation resolve its fiscal, economic and other crises.

"Discussing issues carefully and thoroughly will be the basis of the [newly opened] Diet session," Kan said at a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office.

"I believe common ground can be found in the opinions of the ruling and opposition parties about each bill that will benefit people," he said.

Kan's remarks reflect the apparent belief that his administration must "demonstrate humility" if it is to have bills adopted by the divided Diet created by the Democratic Party of Japan's defeat in the recent House of Councillors election.

The prime minister said he had no intention of dissolving the House of Representatives and calling for a general election.

Kan emphasized that Diet members must "cut their own flesh" by reducing the number of lawmakers.

"I've instructed [DPJ] Secretary General [Yukio] Edano and other party officials to approach the opposition parties with such a proposal, and to seek consensus with them," he said.

Asked whether he intended to appoint former DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa to a key position within the party and seek his cooperation, Kan said, "It's too early to say what I want to do after the party's presidential election in September." Kan reiterated his determination to seek reelection as DPJ chief in the September race. "I want to grapple with various tasks [as DPJ leader and prime minister] as long as I receive the support of party members," he said.