The coming Lower House election will give voters their first chance to express their support, or lack thereof, for the tripartite coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party.

"We will seek the people's judgment (on the bloc) by stating that we will maintain the current coalition after the upcoming election and at least until the next one is held," said Takenori Kanzaki, head of coalition member New Komeito, stressing his party's firm links with the LDP.

After a serious setback in the last Upper House election in 1998, the LDP was forced to seek alliances with its former opposition foes to retain solid control of the Diet.