Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday he has no plan to dissolve the House of Representatives and call a snap election this year, and pledged to employ all possible measures to fight deflation.
In a start-of-the-year news conference at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, Koizumi denied widespread speculation that the next poll will be held this summer.
He said he realizes that Lower House members are gearing up for the next election, now that 2 1/2 years have passed since the last poll.