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On the afternoon of October 15, the Secretaries-General of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito had a twenty-minute meeting in the Diet building. The Secretaries-General talked about the agenda and schedule for the extraordinary Diet sessions.
DPJ Secretaries-General Azuma Koshiishi proposed that three-party talks among the party leaders be held this week, by October 20 at the latest, and that the extraordinary Diet sessions are started by the end of the month. He highlighted three agenda items to be discussed in the Diet: (1) special measures for the issuance of government bonds, (2) proposal of legislation to correct the disparity in the value of one vote, and (3) the establishment of a national commission at the earliest possible date. He commented “These are major issues that have to be addressed.”
Regarding Prime Minister Noda’s comments at the three-party talks held on August 8 between the party leaders, which indicated he would call a snap election in the near future, LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba and New Komeito Secretary-General Yoshihisa Inoue stated “We strongly urge the Prime Minister to follow through on his words. He has made this promise not only to us but also to the people of Japan. The election should take place in early December at the latest.”
In response, Koshiishi suggested that further three-party talks be held among the Secretaries-General, in line with the Prime Minister’s intentions. The three Secretaries-General agreed to hold a meeting again on the afternoon of October 18. Koshiishi explained the proceedings to the press corps after the meeting.
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