Japan dissolves parliament, setting stage for general election
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[October 14, 2021]
By Antoni Slodkowski
TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan dissolved its
parliament on Thursday, setting the stage for an election at the end of
the month that will pit new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida against
unpopular opposition in a battle over who can better fix the
pandemic-battered economy.
Kishida enjoys reasonable public support 11 days into the job, polls
show, boding well for his goal of maintaining a lower house majority for
his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its Komeito party coalition
partner.
"I want to use the election to tell the people what we're trying to do
and what we're aiming for," Kishida told reporters gathered at his
office.
Reflecting on the last 11 days, Kishida said: "I've had a very busy
schedule but strangely, I'm not feeling tired -- I'm feeling fulfilled."
Voters will want to see a government with plans for decisive action to
end the pandemic and rebuild the economy. A recent Sankei newspaper poll
showed that about 48% say they want the Kishida administration to work
on coronavirus most, followed by economic recovery and employment.
Kishida's party is promoting his push for coronavirus measures including
supplying oral antiviral medication this year, as well as his vision of
realising a "new capitalism" that focuses on economic growth and
redistribution of wealth.
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The ruling party has also called for a sharp increase in defence
spending to acquire the capability to destroy ballistic missiles, amid
China's increasingly assertive posture over Taiwan.
The largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democrats (CDPJ), led
by Yukio Edano, has highlighted issues such as its support for same-sex
marriage and different surnames for couples.
The LDP remains socially conservative and, while
progress has been made on LGBTQ rights in society, Kishida has said he
was not in favour of same-sex marriage.
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![](../images/101421pics/news_t39.jpg)
Japan's Prime Minister and the leader of the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) Fumio Kishida and his cabinet ministers raise
their hands and shout "banzai" (cheers) after the dissolution of the
lower house was announced at the Parliament in Tokyo, Japan October
14, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
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The biggest challenge for Constitutional Democrats is their low
support ratings. A recent poll by the Asahi Shimbun daily found only
13% were planning to vote for them, far behind the LDP's 47%; most
other polls record support in the single digits.
Also, Kishida's focus on redistribution and economic growth has
blurred policy differences between the LDP and CDPJ.
Edano said his party, if it were to take power, would go straight to
wealth distribution to kickstart growth.
"'Wage hikes and distribution once growth is achieved.' This is what
(former prime minister Shinzo) Abe was saying. But there was no
growth over the past eight, nine years and no wage hikes," Edano
told reporters. "If we don't distribute wealth first, no growth is
achieved. This is a rather clear difference (between the two
parties)."
Canvassing in many districts is already underway but formally the
campaign will kick off on Oct. 19, followed by the vote on Oct. 31.
Kishida is expected to hold a news conference Thursday night.
(Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski; additional reporting by Kiyoshi
Takenaka. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
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