Aso plays election cards close to chest

Speculation simmered yesterday that Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso might call an election for late next month, but the leader kept his cards close to his chest, saying only that steps for a faltering economy took priority.

Aso, who took office last month after his predecessor suddenly resigned, had been widely expected to call an early election to try to win a mandate to break a policy impasse caused by opposition control of parliament's upper house.

The 68-year-old outspoken nationalist, who favors tax cuts and spending to boost an economy already slipping into recession, has seemed to be leaning towards postponing the day of reckoning after an internal survey by his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) showed the ruling bloc could suffer a big loss.