Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday that he will not dissolve the Lower House for a snap election, ending weeks of speculation.
The opposition's Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is planning to submit a no-confidence motion Friday, a source said, which observers thought may have triggered Kishida to dissolve the Lower House.
However, Kishida told reporters Thursday that he will not dissolve the chamber during the current parliament session. He said that the ruling party will vote down the no-confidence motion.
The CDP has protested against various government policies, including a bill to secure funds to bolster the nation’s defense capabilities, during the ongoing parliament session scheduled to conclude next Wednesday.
The move by an opposition party is not uncommon during the run-up to the closing of regular parliamentary sessions, typically convened in January.
But the decision taken by the opposition party had drawn attention, as it was thought that it could prompt Kishida to dissolve the House of Representatives to seek a stronger mandate for his government, with approval ratings for his Cabinet having picked up.
Speaking to reporters earlier on Thursday ahead of talks with other officials about the timing of the submission, Kenta Izumi, head of the CDP, lambasted Kishida, saying that he “has been toying with the power to dissolve” the Lower House.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Kishida said he will decide when to dissolve the Lower House after assessing “various circumstances” — a reversal of his previous mantra that he was “not considering” calling a general election “for now.”
The current four-year terms for Lower House members expire in October 2025 unless Kishida dissolves the chamber ahead of time.