LDP and DPJ have an excise-tax rise in mind

More than 50 percent of robable candidates of the governing Liberal Democratic Party and 60 percent of those who will run from the Democratic Party of Japan for the Upper House election think that an increase in the consumption tax rate is needed in order to maintain the pension system.

These figures are part of the findings from a survey conducted by Jiji Press on March 27 to probable candidates of five major political parties for the upcoming House of Councilors election.

Also, 84 percent of LDP candidates, 47.2 percent of those of the DPJ, and 25 percent of Komei Party-ticketed candidates answered, "The Constitution is outdated and should be revised as soon as possible."

Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party probable candidates replied that revision of the Constitution is "unnecessary". (end)