make-or-break deal

３党による党首会談に持ち込んだ野田首相は正念場を迎えました。

make-or-break dealは、文字通り、「のるかそるか、一か八かの、勝負の別れ目の」という意味で、進退きわまった首相が大きな賭けに打って出たことを適切に表現しています。

３党による党首会談を終えて会見にのぞんだ野田首相。もっと大がかりな約束があったのでは...なんて深読みをしてしまうくらいのお疲れのご様子でした。（UG）

Noda, opposition leaders strike deal on tax bills, early election

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and the leaders of Japan's two main opposition parties agreed Wednesday on a make-or-break deal to pass sales tax hike and social security reform legislation in exchange for a promise to hold a general election shortly after parliament enacts the legislation on Friday.

After days of political wrangling, Noda told reporters after the talks that the three party leaders will work to pass the legislation, which includes his prized sales tax hike bill aimed at helping to restore Japan's fiscal health, "at an early date" and he will then "seek a public mandate sometime soon."

The prime minister has the prerogative to dissolve the powerful House of Representatives for an election. But faced with the threat of a no-confidence motion that could scuttle his tax plan, he has gone out of his way to seek an agreement with the two parties to secure their crucial support for the passage of the legislation in the opposition-controlled upper house.

The main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and its ally the New Komeito party believe the lower house could be dissolved during the current Diet session through Sept. 8, but with the premier mum on when exactly the election will take place, the timing of the election is still open to dispute.

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120809p2g00m0dm002000c.html