Japan will hold a general election on Oct. 31, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday, choosing to go to the polls earlier than speculated in the apparent hope of capitalizing on an initial popularity bump anticipated after taking the top job and the improving COVID-19 situation.
Kishida, who was elected prime minister by the Diet earlier in the day, told a news conference that he will dissolve the Lower House on Oct. 14, the final day of an extraordinary Diet session, setting the stage for election campaigning to start on Oct. 19.
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