The House of Representatives will probably not be dissolved for a general election in November if one is not held in October, the secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party said Sunday.
Taku Yamasaki made the remark on a Fuji Television Network program to clarify comments he made Wednesday at a gathering of LDP lawmakers saying there will be no general election in October and November.
"I said I believe that if there is no (general election) in October, there will not be one in November," the influential LDP member said.
As there will be unified by-elections Oct. 26 for the Lower House in at least four constituencies, "I just questioned how another election could be held immediately after having so many by-elections," Yamasaki said.
He also reiterated that there will be no general election before September.
In May, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said he might dissolve the Lower House after an LDP president is elected in September. The four-year terms of Lower House members expire next June.
In Japan, Lower House terms can be cut short if the prime minister decides to dissolve the chamber for a snap election.
Yamasaki, meanwhile, indicated that arrangements are being made to extend the current Diet session, scheduled to end Wednesday, until the end of July.