The newly appointed prime minister of Japan
According to media sources on Monday, Shigeru Ishiba intends to hold a sudden general election for late October.
Ishiba, 67, was set to take the oath of office as prime minister on Tuesday after securing the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Friday.
Prior to general elections on October 27, public broadcaster NHK, four major national newspapers, and other media reported—without naming sources—that Ishiba is finalizing plans to dissolve parliament on October 9.
Ishiba stated on Friday that he intended to hold an election “as soon as possible” in order to strengthen his mandate, but he would not specify when.
Fumio Kishida was succeeded as leader of the LDP, which has ruled Japan for nearly 30 years, by former defense minister Ishiba.
Following a severe party slush fund scandal that increased his unpopularity among voters enraged by rising costs, the unpopular Kishida resigned.
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