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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Japan unveils new stimulus plan | Japan unveils new stimulus plan |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has unveiled Japan's second economic stimulus package in as many months. | Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has unveiled Japan's second economic stimulus package in as many months. |
| The 5 trillion yen ($51bn; £31bn) package includes cutting highway tolls and increasing loan guarantees that have been offered to small companies. | The 5 trillion yen ($51bn; £31bn) package includes cutting highway tolls and increasing loan guarantees that have been offered to small companies. |
| There will also be a package of tax cuts and other benefits for Japan's struggling households. | There will also be a package of tax cuts and other benefits for Japan's struggling households. |
| It comes on top of the 11.7 trillion yen package unveiled in August by Mr Aso's predecessor, Yasuo Fukuda. | |
| The new package also includes an expansion of tax-exempt housing loans to boost the struggling property market, funding for care of children and the elderly, and support for unemployed young people. | |
| "In this kind of situation, we need to relieve people's insecurities," Mr Aso said. | "In this kind of situation, we need to relieve people's insecurities," Mr Aso said. |
| "We should not be fearful of the violent storm, nor should we just stand and let the typhoon blow us away." | "We should not be fearful of the violent storm, nor should we just stand and let the typhoon blow us away." |
| Election delay | |
| But the prime minister also said that if economic conditions allowed, he would like to be able to raise consumption taxes in three years. | |
| Mr Aso said he would wait to call elections until his economic measures had taken effect. | |
| "I would like to ask for people's approval after seeing the achievements of my policies," he said. | "I would like to ask for people's approval after seeing the achievements of my policies," he said. |
| The election must take place before September 2009. Before the financial crisis worsened, there had been speculation about a possible snap election in November. | The election must take place before September 2009. Before the financial crisis worsened, there had been speculation about a possible snap election in November. |