On Thursday, Japan’s powerful lower house of parliament was dissolved in a formal step for an October 31 general election that could decide the stay for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in office.
As soon as Kishida took office as prime minister, the election came in less than three weeks. These elections could determine the faith of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party if there is any major loss of seats. This has increased the chances of the leader to be dispatched through the “revolving door” that claimed six previous Japanese premiers between 2007-2012.
Kishida is positive to achieve the modest target of 465-seat House of Representatives to maintain his ruling coalition majority. Before the dissolution, LDP and its junior partner Komeito together controlled more than 300 seats and it would allow for a significant reduction in numbers. They have forged an alliance that includes the Japanese Communist Party while none of the opposition boasts support for more than a single figure.
The party is cooperating in various constituencies to try to reduce the ruling coalition’s majority. The leader has focused his election pledges on establishing a “new capitalism” that will result in economic growth that is widely spread.
