The lower house of Japan’s parliament was dissolved, leading up to the general election as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba aims to secure his party’s lower house majority. The election is set for October 27, with campaign starting on October 15.
Ishiba, who won the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was elected prime minister on October 1, making it the quickest transition in postwar Japan. The upcoming election follows the LDP’s political funding scandal in late 2023.
In his recent policy speech, Ishiba pledged to rebuild public trust in politics and tackle rising living costs. The LDP decided not to support 12 lawmakers implicated in the funding scandal as official candidates.
The LDP, in coalition with Komeito, previously held 258 seats in the 465-member lower house. The main opposition, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan led by Yoshihiko Noda, held 99 seats. Election focus includes political reform, inflation response, and economic strategies, with opposition aiming to challenge the LDP’s dominance.