解散、コロナ対応優先で判断　菅首相

　菅義偉首相は４日の記者会見で、衆院解散の時期に関し「（衆院議員の）任期も決まっている。時間の制約も前提によくよく考えた上で判断したい」と述べた。「当面は新型コロナウイルスの感染対策を最優先に取り組んでいきたい。日本経済全体を見渡し、再生に向けても取り組む必要がある」と強調した。
　一方、次期自民党総裁選への出馬については「先の話だ」と述べるにとどめた。
　首相はいったん、会見の中で解散のタイミングを「秋のどこか」と発言した。しかし、終了後、官邸報道室を通じて「秋までのどこか」と訂正した。言い間違えたとみられる。（2021/01/04-12:34）

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Monday that he will decide whether to dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election while prioritizing novel coronavirus measures.
   "I'd like to reach a decision after careful consideration, taking into account the time limit," he told his New Year's press conference. All members of the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament, are set to reach the end of their term Oct. 21.
   "We'll work on coronavirus measures as our top priority for the time being," Suga said, also stressing the need to rebuild the Japanese economy, hurt by the virus crisis.
   Meanwhile, he did not say whether he will run in the presidential race for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, only stating that the election "will not happen anytime soon." His term as the LDP's president is set to expire at the end of September.
   During the press conference, Suga mentioned that the next Lower House election will be held "sometime in autumn." But he later corrected the remark through his press office, now saying that the election will take place "sometime by autumn."