Abe won't dissolve lower house for snap elections

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday said he was not planning to dissolve the lower house of parliament and call a snap election ahead of the triennial upper house elections this summer.

Abe, the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP), while stating that he "is not considering at all" dissolving the lower house to call a snap election, said that maintaining his ruling bloc's majority in the upcoming upper house elections would be a priority, Xinhua reported.

To advance politics in a stable way under the coalition government of the LDP and Komeito, I would like both of them to secure a majority in the House of Councillors, the prime minister said.

"I will do the utmost to win that victory," Abe added.

On matters of Constitutional reform, the prime minister said efforts in this regard will be stepped up and be one of the focal points of the upcoming election.

"Through such calls, I would like to deepen national debate about the issue," said Abe.

In the more powerful lower house of parliament, Abe's ruling coalition have a two-thirds majority and hold a majority in the smaller upper caucus.

As for Japan hosting the Group of Seven summit in May in Mie prefecture, central Japan, the prime minister said the forum would be key to tackling issues of global economic concern, as well as issues pertaining to terrorism, world poverty and regional issues.

"The G-7 is the champion of universal values such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights," said Abe.

"As its president, I would like to lead the world by looking to the future and showing the most appropriate paths for peace and prosperity of the region and the world."

The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US will convene for the Ise-Shima summit here from May 26 to 27.