Maehara opposes reconstruction tax hike

Former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said Sunday he is still undecided on whether to run in the coming ruling party leadership race to replace Prime Minister Naoto Kan, but clarified his reluctance to see a tax hike to finance reconstruction from the March disaster.

On whether to seek a grand coalition with the two main opposition parties to break the gridlock in the divided Diet, Maehara, speaking on a TV program, called for a time-limited coalition, for about a year, with the Liberal Democratic Party and its ally, New Komeito.

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan has a majority in the powerful House of Representatives but the opposition parties control the House of Councilors.

Maehara's position on the proposed tax hike differs from that of Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who is seen as a leading candidate for next DPJ chief. But the two men share the stance of seeking cooperation from the LDP and New Komeito by inviting them into the Cabinet.

Noda reiterated on a different TV program the need to raise taxes for reconstruction from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in line with the government's initial proposal, which has been deferred due to opposition from within the DPJ.

He also signaled his willingness to let Japan join the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, while calling for an early decision on whether to do so following postponement of the issue in June in the wake of the March earthquake and tsunami.

"We are one lap behind South Korea and China in terms of high-level economic partnerships," Noda said, adding, "Moves since the change of power (to the DPJ-led administration in 2009) have been to catch up on the delay, and the TPP is within the range."

On the possible grand coalition, Noda indicated Saturday he would seek one with the LDP and New Komeito, but former transport minister Sumio Mabuchi, who also plans to run in the race, called Saturday for a "realistic approach" in light of negative reactions to the idea from the two parties, making the matter a major DPJ election issue.

Maehara, a former leader of the DPJ, said a grand coalition "should be realized for about a year by deciding policies."

But he said he has a "clean slate" on the question of whether he will run in the leadership contest to be held after Kan steps down, a move expected late this month. "I would like to make a decision after consulting with my colleagues," he said.

Separately on Sunday, DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada hinted at the possibility of Kan's successor launching a new government in September, not at the end of August as widely expected.

If the next DPJ chief seeks to form an alliance with the LDP and New Komeito, the launch of the new government may be delayed until September, when the Diet is expected to reconvene, since it may take time to coordinate policies with the two major opposition parties before the next Cabinet debuts.

He denied the possibility of himself running in the presidential race.

Japan has issued a visa to former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Monday.

Thaksin, who served as Thai prime minister between 2001 and 2006 before being deposed in a military coup, now lives in exile in Dubai.

Thaksin has been hoping to visit Japan from Aug. 22 to 28, during which time he intends to visit areas in Miyagi Prefecture devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, his supporters said.

Edano said in a news conference that the government issued the visa Sunday after making a "comprehensive" judgment on the request from the Thai government to allow entry to Thaksin.

Japan's move comes after Thaksin's youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was officially sworn in as the new prime minister of Thailand last week.

Edano said the government decided to allow Thaksin entry after the new Thai administration said it plans to lift Thaksin's travel ban.

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