By hannover-web.com On October 9, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba made a significant announcement, revealing the dissolution of the House of Representatives and paving the way for elections set for the 27th. In a statement to reporters, Ishiba emphasized, “We hope to approach this election fairly and sincerely, in hopes that this government can earn the trust of the people.”
Ishiba, who succeeded Fumio Kishida earlier this month, is gearing up for his first election as Prime Minister. The decision to call for an early election has sparked criticism from opposition parties, which argue that the move seems rushed in an effort to gain new voter approval, according to Kyodo News.
Remarkably, this announcement came just eight days into Ishiba’s tenure, marking the quickest dissolution of the House since World War II. He leads a coalition government with the Komeito party, amid ongoing scrutiny involving a political funding scandal within his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
While members of the House of Representatives typically serve until October of the following year, the Prime Minister possesses constitutional authority to dissolve the House at will. During a debate with opposition leaders, Ishiba justified his decision, stating that seeking a direct mandate from the public was essential for the government’s functioning, especially in safeguarding the interests of Japan and its citizens.
Yoshihiko Noda, the former Prime Minister and head of the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, didn’t hold back in his criticism of Ishiba. Noda accused him of trying to deflect attention from the LDP’s “secret funds” controversy, which involves allegations that several LDP members failed to adequately report political donations. He bluntly suggested that the timing of the House’s dissolution appeared to be a strategic move for the LDP to take advantage of a “honeymoon period” following Ishiba’s appointment.
Notably, prior to becoming Prime Minister, Ishiba had already signaled his intention to dissolve the House back in September. The last election took place in 2021, shortly after Kishida assumed office.
