The Abe administration is considering waiting until November 2016 or later to expand the role of the Self-Defense Forces in the U.N. peacekeeping operation in South Sudan under the controversial security legislation passed last month, according to a government source.

The current plan is to make the change in May, but that could have a negative impact on the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the Upper House election next summer, the source said Sunday.

The delay would also give the SDF more time to prepare for the new mission, the source added.