Ishiba, Japan's Next Prime Minister, "Dissolution of the Diet... Early General Election to be Held on the 27th of Next Month"

Shigeru Ishiba, the new president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who is scheduled to become Japan's next prime minister, announced on the 30th that he will dissolve the House of Representatives (lower house) early and hold a general election on the 27th of next month.

Shigeru Ishiba, the new president of the Liberal Democratic Party (Photo by Yonhap News)

On the day before his inauguration, President Ishiba held a press conference and officially announced, "It is important for the new administration to be judged by the people as soon as possible." He also expressed his intention to form a new cabinet and launch the administration immediately after being elected prime minister in the National Diet on the 1st of next month. It is analyzed that this political decision to dissolve the House of Representatives early in line with the launch of the new administration is advantageous for the ruling party, which has been on the defensive due to the LDP's slush fund scandal.

In response to President Ishiba's announcement, Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, criticized it as "disrespectful to the Diet." Noda particularly condemned the dissolution plan, saying, "If they try to escape from debate before even having the materials to ask the people for their trust, this can only be called a 'slush fund dissolution,'" and urged a reinvestigation into the LDP's slush fund issue and its ties with the former Unification Church.

However, since the ruling LDP and its coalition partner Komeito hold an overwhelming majority of seats, the House of Representatives election is expected to be held as planned on the 27th of next month according to the schedule announced by President Ishiba.

Meanwhile, on the same day, President Ishiba held an extraordinary general affairs meeting at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo and made personnel appointments for party executives. Classified as a non-mainstream figure with a weak base within the party, Ishiba appointed former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as party vice president and former Prime Minister Taro Aso, who leads the only remaining faction 'Aso faction,' as the party's supreme advisor to ensure stable party management.

Shinjiro Koizumi, former Minister of the Environment, who initially formed a two-strong rivalry with Ishiba in this presidential election, was appointed as the election campaign committee chairman.

According to Japanese local media, President Ishiba is expected to attend the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit to be held in Laos from the 9th to the 11th of next month after assuming office as prime minister.