Election pledges presented by seven major political parties show that the ruling and opposition blocs differ markedly on fiscal policies, the taxation system and ways to finance social security schemes.

According to pledges announced by the seven parties by Monday, the three ruling parties said they will continue to follow an active spending policy to boost the economy -- despite mounting deficits -- while four opposition parties attacked the policy as a "tactic to win votes" in the June 25 House of Representatives election.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party have compiled their proposals on how a 500 billion yen provisional public works spending reserve for fiscal 2000 should be used. The reserve is set aside in the record-high 84.99 trillion yen budget for the year that began April 1.