House of Reps likely to be dissolved

? The prospects are increasing that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda may dissolve the House of Representatives for a general election in January after submitting a bill on a newly adopted flat-sum tax cut to the Diet, according to observers.

The reason behind this speculation is that the lump-sum reduction in income and residence taxes, which the Liberal Democratic Party’s coalition partner, New Komeito, believes will boost the ruling camp’s election campaign, was incorporated into a fresh economic stimulus package finalized Friday.