Liberal Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki pledged Sunday to force the ruling Democratic Party of Japan to dissolve the Lower House as early as possible so a snap election can be held to return the conservative party to power.
"It'll be a final political battle this year. We'll drive them into a Lower House snap election as soon as possible," the opposition leader said at the LDP's annual convention in Tokyo.
Tanigaki, whose term expires in September, is rallying his party now because if his dissolution gambit fails, he is unlikely to be re-elected. The Diet opens for business on Tuesday. "The LDP has to save Japan from national crisis," he said, raising his voice.