Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda managed Wednesday to avoid being slapped with a double-punch no confidence vote and censure motion by the Liberal Democratic Party by promising to call for a snap election "soon."
Noda met with LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki and New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi in the evening, and they agreed to cooperate, once again, to enact the contentious consumption tax hike bill promptly. In a divided Diet where the opposition controls the Upper House, the ruling Democratic Party of Japan needs the support of the LDP and New Komeito to pass the bills.
In Wednesday's deal, Tanigaki gave up trying to force Noda to set a date for the dissolution of the Lower House. The LDP earlier in the day appeared ready to submit a no confidence motion in the lower chamber and a censure motion in the Upper House.