Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Thursday that he will not dissolve the Lower House for a snap election during the current parliamentary session, ending months of speculation on whether he would call an election while his approval ratings are relatively high.
The past week has seen a political tug-of-war between Kishida and the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan over whether the party would submit a no-confidence motion, and if so, whether Kishida will respond by dissolving the Lower House for a snap election.
“If the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan submits a no-confidence motion, I have asked earlier (Liberal Democratic Party) Secretary-General (Toshimitsu) Motegi to vote it down immediately,” Kishida told a press gaggle Thursday evening at the Prime Minister’s Office.