Japan's new Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada has called for discussions to cut the salaries of lawmakers and subsidies to political parties before raising the consumption tax rate.

Appearing on an NHK program aired on Sunday, Okada said lawmakers should have their salaries cut by a margin larger than the 7.8 percent cut planned for government employees.

He also said reduction of subsidies to political parties should be studied. He said he personally believes the subsidies should be cut.

In a Cabinet reshuffle on Friday, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda appointed Okada as deputy prime minister and minister in charge of reform of social security and taxes, as well as administrative reform.

Okada expressed his resolve to try to obtain consent from opposition parties to discuss the proposed unified reform of social security and taxes.

The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito are refusing to discuss the matter with the Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Noda.

Source: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120115_18.html

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