Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi will seek talks with Ichiro Ozawa, head of the Liberal Party, about forming an alliance when he returns from Russia later this week, executives of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party said Monday.
Although Obuchi will also hold talks with other opposition party leaders, the LDP appears to be pinning its hopes on the Liberal Party, whose views on many key issues are the same as the LDP's, the executives said. Takeshi Noda, secretary general of the Liberal Party, told reporters his party is ready to hold "comprehensive" talks with the LDP, including on the possibility of establishing a coalition government.
The LDP has been seeking cooperation from opposition parties so that important legislation can be smoothly passed during the next Diet session, which is slated to begin at the end of this month.