The Liberal Democratic Party is considering submitting a no-confidence motion Tuesday against the Cabinet and a censure motion against Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, members of the leading opposition force said Saturday.
The LDP is considering the move because it is displeased by Noda's failure to clearly promise to dissolve the House of Representatives after a bill to double the sales tax clears the Diet, they said. Some LDP leaders are even leaning toward annulling an agreement it made with ally New Komeito and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan to cooperate on the bill, which hikes the consumption tax rate in two stages from the current 5 percent, they said.
In late June, the Lower House approved the bill with the backing of the three major parties. The LDP urged Noda to promptly call a general election in exchange.
However, in an interview Friday with reporters covering Cabinet affairs, the LDP's leadership said it is becoming increasingly irate over Noda's failure to clearly commit to dissolving the chamber once that happens. Since the opposition controls the Upper House, the LDP and New Komeito have promised to back the tax hike legislation when the vote comes up, virtually ensuring its enactment.