The present three-way coalition government led by the Liberal Democratic Party will be maintained beyond the July 29 Upper House election, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Thursday.
Koizumi confirmed this position to the leaders of New Komeito and the New Conservative Party, who gathered at the Prime Minister's Official Residence to discuss policy issues ahead of Koizumi's trip to the United States, Britain and France this weekend.
"It is just natural for us to keep (the alliance). . . . Here, I would like to clarify that once again," NCP chief Chikage Ogi quoted Koizumi as telling the tripartite gathering.