Japan opposition aims to block PM's education bill

TOKYO, Dec 14 (Reuters) Japanese opposition parties agreed today to submit a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to try to thwart passage of an education reform bill that is the centrepiece of Abe's policy platform, media reports said.

Abe, 52, vowed when he took office in September to revise a 1947 US-drafted education law so as to put more patriotism and discipline in the nation's classrooms.

The four opposition parties have also said they would submit a no-confidence motion against Foreign Minister Taro Aso for saying there was no need to rule out debate over whether Japan should possess nuclear weapons -- a touchy topic in the only country to have suffered atomic attack.

Neither motion is likely to pass the lower house, where Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has a huge majority.

But any delay would be an embarrassment for Abe, already beset by falling popularity and struggling to deal with a furore over rigged public ''town meetings''.

Parliament's current session is set to end tomorrow but media have speculated the government might extend the session if necessary to enact the education reform bill, which has already been passed by the lower chamber.

Doubts about the conservative Abe's commitment to the economic reforms set in motion by his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, have eaten away at his popularity.

A survey released by Jiji news agency on Thursday showed his support at 41.9 per cent, down 9.5 points from the previous month. Other polls have shown similar declines.

In the latest blow, an official report released on Wednesday showed officials had planted questions at government-sponsored town meetings, with participants coached on how to ask questions at 15 of the meetings -- many on the topic of education reform.

Abe termed the town meeting incidents -- which also included wasted funds -- ''regrettable'' and said he would return three months of his salary in order to take responsibility. Other officials face similar punishments.

REUTERS BDP RAI1917