Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa said Saturday the House of Representatives will likely be dissolved in March, at the latest, so a general election can be held in April.
"We are preparing for the general election because we believe it will be held in April," he told a conference of postmasters in Tokyo.
The statement by the chief of the main opposition party apparently means he thinks the Lower House will be dissolved immediately after the fiscal 2009 budget is enacted, which the ruling coalition is hoping to achieve before the end of the fiscal year on March 31.
Ozawa also said the DPJ will compile a bill with the People's New Party, a smaller opposition party, to review the privatization of the postal service after taking power, reaching out for support from postal workers.