New Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba dissolved the lower house of Parliament on Wednesday to set up an October 27 snap election.
Ishiba is asking the public to trust the governing party’s policies, but critics argue the vote is coming too soon.
Ishiba took office last week after Fumio Kishida resigned from the governing Liberal Democratic Party. Kishida’s leadership faced several corruption scandals over the past three years. With this early election, Ishiba seeks to secure a majority in the lower house, the more powerful of the two chambers, before the congratulatory mood fades.
Some have argued that this decision prioritizes elections over policies and allows little time for debate. However, Japan’s opposition remains too fractured to effectively challenge the governing party, the Liberal Democratic Party, which has held power almost continuously since World War II.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks in Tokyo on October 7. Ishiba has dissolved Parliament for 18 days ahead of a snap election on October 27.
Kyodo/AP Photo
Ishiba announced his plans for the election even before winning the party leadership vote. His cabinet confirmed the election date and said campaigning will begin next Tuesday.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Ishiba stressed the importance of connecting with voters to rebuild trust. “Without the people’s understanding and empathy, politics will not move forward,” he said.
Ishiba will travel to Laos on Thursday for his diplomatic debut at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. He reiterated his commitment to balancing diplomacy and defense to promote peace and stability in the region.
Initial public support ratings for Ishiba as prime minister are about 50 percent or lower, which is low for a new leader, according to Japanese media reports. He is perceived as backtracking on several proposals to avoid controversy ahead of the election.
In his first policy speech at Parliament, he did not address his goals for a stronger regional military framework or a more equal Japan-United States security alliance. He also avoided topics like a dual surname option for married couples and other issues that conservatives in the party oppose.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (R) in the lower house of Parliament on October 9. Ishiba is banking on his popularity and promised defense and demographic measures ahead of a snap election.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo
Ishiba stated that he is taking time to build consensus within his party. He does not belong to any factions led by influential party figures, which some analysts suggest could lead to instability during his leadership. None of his cabinet ministers come from the faction associated with the late Shinzo Abe, who faced misconduct allegations.
Ishiba plans to refrain from endorsing certain members of the Abe faction in the upcoming election. He wants to signal his commitment to cleaner politics. While some opponents argue this approach is still too lenient, Ishiba is facing backlash from his party for being overly strict.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
