Japan's PM eyes year-end election in quid-pro-quo deal with opposition (3)

Political sources maintain that Noda's electoral reform stance will form part of the DPJ's campaign platform when a general election is held -- evidence that the premiere is very close to dissolving the lower house and preparing his party to defend its incumbency.

Noda also plans to announce Japan's participation in the Trans- Pacific Partnership free trade arrangement talks, according to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, and the prime minister also wants to show a clear difference in policy platform with the LDP who oppose lifting tariffs on agriculture, as this sector comprises a significant portion of the party's backers, the paper said.

In addition, the Japanese leader wants focused deliberations with the opposition camp resulting in the overhaul of the nation' s fragile social security system.

As the main opposition LDP's leader Shinzo Abe has said his party is willing to cooperate with Noda on passing the debt- financing bill and pull together on other pertinent issues, Noda, according to his aides, is now prepared to deliver on his somewhat recalcitrant and long-held promise to dissolve the lower house "in the near future."

Up until now and despite mounting pressure against him, Noda has been reluctant to specify dates for the dissolution of the lower house and subsequent general election, much to the ire of his opponents and the electorate.