Following is the gist of remarks made by Mr. Takashi Imai, Chairman, Keidanren, on the occasion of non-scheduled press conference held on 5 April 2000. Translation is rush and tentative, and sequence of the gist does not necessarily coincide with words delivered.
Mr. Mori, the new Prime Minister, whose career in administration and in his party qualifies him to the post, is expected to follow the path of his predecessor, Mr. Obuchi. Agenda waiting for his attention include urgent issues such as recovery of the Japanese economy, eruption of Mt. Usu and G-8 Summit in July. Variety of structural reforms such as strengthening industrial competitiveness, welfare reform, education reform, central government reform, and regulatory reforms should also be pursued.
What I do also hope now is that the new Prime Minister should provide the public, in detail and in his words, his policy proposals before he decides to dissolve the Diet.
The timing of the general election is entirely up to the new Prime Minister. I remember the preference of Mr. Obuchi was to hold election after the G-8 Summit in July, but the new Prime Minister might have alternative options. The new coalition government should consider agenda for the 21st Century which could only be achieved under comfortable majority in the Diet.