Japan’s ruling and opposition parties are gearing up for a snap election. This comes after the country’s new prime minister announced that he plans to dissolve the Lower House next Wednesday and have the public give him its opinion of his Cabinet.
Ishiba Shigeru was elected as the country’s 102nd prime minster in both chambers of the Diet on Tuesday. He formed his Cabinet on the same day.
At his first news conference, Ishiba announced that official campaigning will begin on October 15, and that the election will be held on October 27.
The prime minister said he wants to hold elections, so that citizens can decide whether they want to support the new Cabinet or consider other options.
The main ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Policy Research Council held a meeting. The members agreed to quickly draw up a list of the LDP’s campaign pledges. They indicated that those pledges will be based on policies that Ishiba promoted during the party’s presidential election.
Each LDP member involved in the political funds scandal will be required to submit a document explaining how the problem should be prevented from happening again. The party will then decide whether it will endorse the individual.
The leader of the largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, Noda Yoshihiko, criticized Ishiba’s move.
Noda said Ishiba previously described the LDP as a party that follows the rules. He accused the new prime minister of failing to keep his word. Noda also said he is deeply disappointed that Ishiba is running away from a debate in the Diet.
The CDP plans to work with other opposition parties, so that joint candidates can be fielded in the single-seat constituencies. The aim of the move is to defeat the scandal-ridden LDP lawmakers.