Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said Monday that he will determine the date for dissolving the Lower House in close consultation with his two ruling coalition partners, keeping alive media speculation over the timing of the next general election.
His decision on the impending election, which must be held by mid-October, was conveyed to the press by the leaders of the coalition parties, who consulted Obuchi earlier in the day in a rare top-level meeting.
In the meeting with New Komeito President Takenori Kanzaki and Liberal Party chief Ichiro Ozawa, the prime minister also expressed strong determination to maintain his post through the Group of Eight summit in July.