The administration plans to present its nominees for Bank of Japan governor and vice governors to the Diet by month's end, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Monday.
The terms of the current two vice governors expires March 19, but the administration will announce its candidates well before the deadline, Suga told a news conference.
The term of current Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa expires April 8, but he has said he will step down at the same time as the two vice governors so the entire new leadership can come in at the same time.
The ruling and opposition parties are now discussing whether to revoke a self-imposed rule under which government nominees for official positions are scrapped if their names are leaked to and reported in the media in advance.
Even if the two blocs fail to reach an agreement, the government may still propose its candidates to the Diet so none of the BOJ's three top positions will be left vacant, Suga said.
"All of the ruling and opposition parties believe something is wrong with the current rule. I hope a new rule will be decided in a constructive manner," he said.
The BOJ nominees will require the endorsement of both Diet chambers.
The ruling bloc lacks a majority in the Upper House and the opposition parties, if united, can block the government's nominees.