The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Tokyo

Japan's unpopular Prime Minister Taro Aso signalled Sunday he would not call elections at least for a few months, pledging instead to tackle the worsening economic crisis.

The opposition has been pressing Aso to dissolve parliament immediately for snap polls, seeing a chance finally to unseat his long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

But holding a news conference on the eve of a potentially tense new parliament session, Aso said: "It is clear that economic measures are what we must be in a hurry to do."

"It is important to pass budgets and related bills. I have no plan to dissolve (parliament) until then."

Aso, however, stopped short of elaborating on when exactly he planned to call elections, saying only: "Taro Aso will make the decision."

The government must call a general election by September.

Parliament convenes on Monday for a session in which the ruling coalition will submit budget bills that it hopes to pass by the end of this fiscal year ending March 31.

The government has proposed a record 88.55 trillion yen (965 billion dollar) budget for next year including tax cuts, cash rebates and other incentives aimed at stimulating the world's second largest economy .

However, legislation in Japan has often hit gridlock since the opposition took control of the less powerful upper house of parliament in July 2007.

Analysts say chances are high that the ruling coalition would suffer a major defeat in the closely watched general elections even if Aso delays the timing further.

"Skepticism is growing in the ruling coalition about a victory in the elections under the leadership of Aso," said Yoshikazu Sakamoto, emeritus professor of politics at the University of Tokyo.