公明の山口代表、秋以降の続投検討　在任１５年、衆院選に備え

　公明党の山口那津男代表（７１）が、任期満了を迎える今年秋以降も続投する方向で検討していることが分かった。在任１５年に及び、世代交代の遅れが指摘されているが、秋以降に取り沙汰される衆院解散・総選挙に備える必要があると判断した。党関係者が１３日、明らかにした。
　山口氏は１２日のラジオ日本番組で、９月に予定される自民党総裁選後の衆院解散の可能性に言及。衆院選前の代表交代について「党の力を結集できるか、ということがある。党大会の時期をずらすことも考えながら配慮を巡らしたい」と述べ、続投を示唆した。（2024/06/13-18:49）

The tenure of Natsuo Yamaguchi, 71, as leader of Komeito, the coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, may be extended, given the possibility that the next general election will be held this autumn, party sources said Thursday.
   Yamaguchi's current term will end at a party convention in September, but there is a proposal to postpone the party convention until after the next general election, according to the sources.
   In a radio program on Wednesday, Yamaguchi mentioned a possible dissolution of the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, after the LDP's leadership election in September.
   Yamaguchi said that if Komeito changes its leader before the possible election, it is uncertain whether the party can face the election after good preparations. "We will make considerations, including considering delaying the party convention," he said.
   Yamaguchi assumed the leadership position in September 2009. Now in his eighth term, he is the longest-serving chief of Komeito since the 1998 renewal of the party. Meanwhile, there are concerns that a generational shift in the party's leadership could be delayed.