Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, a strong candidate for prime minister, hinted Saturday he will attempt to form a grand coalition with the major opposition parties if he wins the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's presidential election.
Speaking on a TV program, Noda emphasized the importance for the ruling coalition to be united in discussing the possibility of banding together with opposition parties, and called for the creation of a Cabinet that can steer the nation through the ongoing crisis.
"What we need to do first is to start sincerely asking the opposition parties (to join a coalition). Japanese politics won't move forward unless we create a coalition government," Noda said. "We have to deal with issues in consideration of the opinions of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito."