Taking a strong stance on fiscal discipline to deal with the snowballing national debt, newly appointed Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Wednesday the issuance of new Japanese government bonds for fiscal 2011 should be kept below this fiscal year's ¥44.3 trillion.
In a group interview at the ministry, Noda also hinted the government may propose a consumption tax hike before the next Lower House poll, which must be held by fall 2013.