In an attempt to take advantage of his political infancy and a split opposition, the prime minister is dissolving the National Diet in advance of the quick elections scheduled for October 27.
In anticipation of early elections on October 27, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is scheduled to dissolve the legislature on Wednesday. He is counting on his political inexperience and a dispersed opposition to propel his scandal-plagued party to victory.
He is almost guaranteed to be re-elected because his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has ruled Japan for nearly twenty years without interruption.
However, Ishiba, who was only appointed prime minister last week, wants to strengthen his authority to enact programs that include increasing defense and aid to poorer areas severely impacted by Japan’s demographic crisis.
He replaced Fumio Kishida, whose government had suffered from record-low approval ratings due partially to slush fund scandals that increased distrust in the LDP and voter unhappiness over rising prices.
Ishiba’s supporters believe that the openly critical of the LDP establishment and self-described “geek” of defense will increase the party’s appeal.
Political science professor at the University of Tokyo Yu Uchiyama stated that the 67-year-old is trying to put his party to the test before the end of his “honeymoon” by dissolving parliament in this manner.
“It makes sense that he wanted to call a snap election as soon as the ‘face’ of the party changed, while the momentum is still there” , according to AFP.
Uchiyama went on to say that Ishiba also intended to surprise the opposition because the LDP’s adversaries are still unsure of how to work together during the election.
However, critics also pointed out that the prime minister’s decision to hold an early snap election went against his earlier promises to put up a fight with the opposition in parliament.
According to Uchiyama, a number of voters viewed it as a depressing indication that he had “caused himself to be pushed around by his party” to dissolve the legislature for political purposes.
Ishiba declared over the weekend that the LDP would not support certain discredited party members in the next election who are connected to the political fundraising scandal.
According to Uchiyama, he “likely regained public trust in him a bit” and made the declaration to show the public that he can be “strict.”
New pledges
Ishiba, a former minister of defense renowned for his profound understanding of security policy, has supported the formation of a regional military alliance modeled after NATO.
In his first policy statement on Friday, he had warned that “today’s Ukraine could be tomorrow’s East Asia” and described the security situation in Asia as “the most severe since the end of World War II”.
Ishiba referred to the situation as a “quiet emergency” on Friday. As the country’s population ages and the birth rate continues to hover around zero, Japan is likewise facing an impending demographic crisis.
He said his government would encourage measures to benefit families such as flexible working hours.
Ishiba has also promised to “ensure Japan’s economy emerges from deflation” and hopes to raise earnings by supporting low-income people and local governments in addition to implementing a fresh stimulus package.
Additionally, it promises to permit married couples to keep their separate last names.
