Major and minor parties already have 708 candidates lined up for the next Lower House election, a Jiji Press survey has shown.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decided not to dissolve the Lower House during the ordinary parliament session that ended Wednesday. Meanwhile, the current Lower House lawmakers are set to reach the halfway point in their four-year term in October this year.
Many people speculate that Kishida may dissolve the chamber for a snap election in the fall. That possibility has political parties hastily preparing to choose candidates.