New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki said Thursday that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi may be held responsible if the ruling coalition fails to retain its majority in the next House of Councilors election.
Kanzaki, on a visit to Beijing, told reporters that as a "a minimum requirement," the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito must retain their combined majority in the Upper House in this summer's election.
"Who knows what will happen if we cannot retain a majority, because it could cause political instability," he said.
He also said that his party may issue an interim report on its constitutional amendment proposals before the July election.