Pressure is growing on Japanese prime minister Taro Aso today after ruling party lawmakers called for a meeting to debate the party's ailing fortunes at which his critics are expected to seek his resignation.
Mr Aso's plan for an election on August 30th - announced just a day after the opposition Democrats trounced the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in a Tokyo metropolitan vote - has sparked chaos in the ruling party.
Surveys show the Democratic Party will win the national election, which must be held by October.
That would end more than 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the business-friendly LDP and improve chances of resolving a policy deadlock caused by a divided parliament, where the opposition controls the upper house and can delay bills.
A petition demanding the meeting of LDP lawmakers was handed to LDP Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda, top government spokesman Takeo Kawamura told reporters.
Under party rules, the meeting must be held within seven days, although Mr Aso could dissolve the lower house first.
Mr Kawamura said Mr Aso was ready to respond if the meeting was held, but would likely stick to his election plan.
Reuters
