The Liberal Democratic Party needs more time to promote its policies before entertaining any idea of a Lower House election, the chairman of the LDP Election Strategy Council indicated Tuesday.

Noting that Lower House members' terms end in September 2009 and an election could be held anytime between now and then, Makoto Koga said: "Some people say (an election is) within range, and I agree. But to eradicate public anxiety and paint a better picture for the future, I think we need a little more time."

Before Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda reshuffled his Cabinet on Friday, Koga said an election was approaching, possibly by the end of this year or early next year.