Japan appears headed for a Dec. 14 general election, with an official from the ruling coalition saying Wednesday that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is preparing to dissolve the Lower House and go to the polls.
Before his departure last Sunday for a regional economic summit in Beijing, Abe mentioned to senior members of his Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Komeito that he may dissolve the Lower House on Nov. 19 and hold an election by the end of the year, with Dec. 14 being the most likely election date, the official said. Another option would be Dec. 21.
Many in the Abe administration expect the prime minister will announce plans to delay a planned increase in the consumption tax to April 2017 from October 2015 — a decision apparently linked to the potential dissolution of the Lower House.