The Diet will elect a new prime minister on Oct. 4 at an extraordinary session, according to a Cabinet decision Tuesday, meaning a general election is likely to be held in November and that Lower House members’ terms will expire for the first time in postwar history.
To hold the election before members’ terms end on Oct. 21, campaigning needs to start Oct. 5 for voting on Oct. 17 at the latest. But given that the new prime minister needs to appoint Cabinet members and is likely to deliver a policy speech, that schedule is not certain to be met.
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