Japan’s opposition leader announces preparations for early elections, according to report

Yuichiro Tamaki, the leader of Japan’s small opposition party, the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), announced on Saturday that he is preparing for a snap general election before the current parliament session concludes on June 21, according to Kyodo news agency.

Tamaki expressed the intention to accelerate preparations in anticipation that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may dissolve the lower house of parliament on June 16. Speaking to reporters in Toyama city, Tamaki emphasized the need to be proactive and ready for the possibility of an early election.

Although the scheduled election for the lower house is not until the autumn of 2025, there are speculations that Kishida aims to strengthen his position within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ahead of a party leadership race in September next year. Analysts suggest that an early election could be advantageous for Kishida, considering the recent increase in his support rates following the successful hosting of the G7 summit last month.

Prime Minister Kishida, who assumed office in October 2021, has consistently maintained that he had no plans to dissolve the lower chamber for a snap election. However, the opposition leader’s announcement has brought attention to the possibility of an early election and has sparked discussions about potential political shifts in Japan’s landscape.