Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on Tuesday morning expressed his intention to maintain the current framework of the tripartite coalition and realize policy goals set by the three ruling parties.
"We must obtain a national consensus on policies like national security . . . By making efforts to gain people's understanding, I would like to expand the role of the ruling coalition," Obuchi told reporters.
The prime minister's remarks came a day after Liberal Party leader Ichiro Ozawa suggested he might withdraw his party from its 14-month alliance with the Liberal Democratic Party. New Komeito is the third coalition member.