Hiromu Nonaka, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, on Friday said his earlier comments that rejection of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori did not prove public trust in his administration were only meant to "encourage."
"Although I made unsparing remarks, what I mean is (Mori) should not just be satisfied with the present situation," Nonaka said during a television interview. "It was my pep talk, my words of encouragement.
He was trying to brush aside speculation that his remarks were an indication he wants the unpopular Mori replaced at an early date.
Mori survived an opposition-proposed no-confidence motion early Tuesday after former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato backed down from his earlier plan to support the motion.
But Kato's revolt exposed growing sentiment within the LDP that Mori should step down to avoid handing the party severe losses in the Upper House election in the summer.
Since Tuesday, Nonaka has repeatedly said Mori should not take the result of the Diet vote as proof of public trust.
Admitting that sentiment toward Mori among LDP lawmakers remains severe, Nonaka said Friday, "I must keep urging him to handle things with the utmost care."
Nonaka, an influential behind-the-scenes deal-maker in the LDP-led coalition government, also suggested that Mori would remain at the nation's helm at least until early next year, saying that he must carry out the reorganization of government ministries and agencies scheduled for Jan. 6.
Nonaka also referred to Mori's planned visit to Russia at the end of the year, when the prime minister will continue negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a territorial dispute over a group of islands off Hokkaido.