Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda intends to dissolve the House of Representatives for a general election by the end of this year, his aides said Monday.
Noda's decision comes as his government has almost secured passage of key bills, including a debt-financing bill for the current fiscal year through March, with cooperation from the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and its ally the New Komeito party, they said.
The premier, head of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, will closely watch the development of discussions about how to reform the lower house electoral system before making a final decision on when to dissolve the lower house, the aides added.