Japan's economic minister warns against election

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200810/s2401534.htm

Updated October 26, 2008 17:45:10

Related Stories:

Indonesia's Chris John retains featherweight title
Japan, South Korea markets fall
Japan proposes $258b economic stimulus
Australia works to cover Japan's fuel to NKorea
Japan's economics minister has told the Prime Minister Taro Aso not to call a snap election soon because of the global financial crisis.

Speculation has been simmering that Mr Aso will call a November 30 general election in a bid to gain a mandate to break a political stalemate caused by the opposition's control of parliament's upper house.

But a sharp slide in Tokyo share prices and a surge in the yen's strength that is battering profits at exporters as Japan's economy slips into recession are making the decision a tough one.

The Economics Minister Kaoru Yosano says they can not call an election because of anxiety in the financial and security markets.