Japanese ex-PM to quit Dec lower house election

TOKYO - Japanese former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama decided to give up running the House of Representatives election in December and to retire from politics Wednesday, according to local media.

Local media reported that the 65-year-old Hatoyama met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Wednesday and conveyed his decision.

Hatoyama told reporters earlier the main reason of quitting the election is Noda required DPJ candidates to support the planned consumption tax hike and Japan's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks.

Hatoyama, served as Prime Minister from September 2009 to June 2010, was the first prime minister from current ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).

Hatoyama is also one of the founders of the DPJ, voted against on the tax-hiking bill and was punished with a three-month party membership suspension in the summer.