Increased Possibility of General Election by Term Expiry Without Dissolution of Japan's House of Representatives... First Time in 45 Years Since World War II

▲Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister of Japan [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The possibility of a general election in Japan due to the expiration of the House of Representatives' term for the first time in 45 years is increasing.

According to Sankei Shimbun on the 30th, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide stated that it is realistic to hold a general election due to the expiration of the House of Representatives' term (October 21) without dissolving the House before the ruling Liberal Democratic Party presidential election scheduled for the 29th of next month.

If the House of Representatives is not dissolved this time and a general election is held upon term expiration, it will be the second case since World War II.

Under the current constitution, a total of 25 House of Representatives elections have been held, and except for the term expiration election during the Miki Takeo (1907?1988) cabinet in 1976, all were dissolution elections.

According to Japan's Public Offices Election Act, elections due to term expiration of the House of Representatives must be conducted within 30 days of the expiration date. In this case, it would be between September 21 and October 20.

According to Sankei Shimbun, since the voting for the LDP presidential election with multiple candidates is on the 29th of next month, the option for the term expiration House of Representatives election is almost limited to 'October 5 announcement - October 17 (Sunday) voting.'

There is a rising plan for Prime Minister Suga to express the policy of holding a term expiration House of Representatives election in advance through a press conference and to decide it at the Cabinet meeting on the 21st of next month, which is 30 days before the expiration.

It is also exceptionally possible under the Public Offices Election Act to dissolve the House of Representatives after the LDP presidential election regardless of the term and postpone the voting to late October or November.

Since the Japanese government's goal for completing COVID-19 vaccinations is November, there is speculation that delaying the general election could be advantageous for the ruling party.

However, in this case, criticism that the delay is due to the LDP's political interests cannot be avoided.

Sankei reported that around Prime Minister Suga, the opinion that electing new members within the four-year term of the House of Representatives as stipulated by the constitution is the 'honor of constitutional government' is growing stronger.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.