New economy minister Kaoru Yosano said Tuesday that he wants cross-party talks on tax reforms and the future of the social security system as early as June, while new industry minister Banri Kaieda said Prime Minister Naoto Kan should call a general election if he plans to raise the consumption tax via the reforms.
Yosano also said the Democratic Party of Japan-led government should outline the planned reforms by June and inform the opposition parties, which control the Upper House and have urged Kan to make public his administration's plans.
The proposal by Yosano, an independent who was named to the Cabinet on Friday as economic and fiscal policy minister, appears at odds with Kan's position. The prime minister earlier said he would aim to reach a conclusion in June after holding talks with opposition parties.