Japan - October 09, 2024

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's decision to dissolve the lower house of parliament was made due to pressure from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to a certain extent, in order to secure his party's lower house majority, according to Nishikawa Shinichi, professor of political science at the Meiji University.

The lower house was officially dissolved on Wednesday. The move is setting the stage for the upcoming general election, which is slated to be held on Oct. 27, with campaigning set to begin on Oct. 15.

Ishiba won the presidential election of the ruling LDP on Sept. 27 and was elected prime minister on Oct. 1 in the parliament controlled by the LDP-led coalition.

The timing marked the shortest period between a prime minister taking office and the dissolution of the lower house in Japan's postwar history.

The slush fund scandal of the LDP has always been one of the focuses of debate and attack among the opposition parties.

Shinichi believes that the newly inaugurated prime minister will not keep his promise to solve the problem at the moment.

Shotlist:
Tokyo, Japan - Oct 9, 2024:
FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown
1. Various of Japan's National Diet building;
2. Traffic sign reading "The National Diet Main Gate";
Tokyo, Japan - Oct 9, 2024
3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Nishikawa Shinichi, professor of political science, Meiji University:
"There is a strong desire within the LDP to dissolve the lower house as soon as possible while the 'freshness' of the new regime is still there, or before it 'exposes its flaws', in order to conduct a so-called 'unfailable' general election. I think Ishiba was also forced to compromise under the pressure from the LDP.";
FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Aug 14, 2024
4. Various of Liberal Democratic Party headquarters, signs, security personnel;
Tokyo, Japan - Oct 9, 2024
5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Nishikawa Shinichi, professor of political science, Meiji University:
"Shigeru Ishiba's top priority is to unite the LDP supporters, especially keeping the cooperation with Komeito, to ensure victory in the election and prevent the problem from escalating. He pays lip service to solving the slush fund scandal, but this may be just a superficial promise. In fact, he is more concerned about how to ensure a solid support base.";
FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown
6. Japan's National Diet building;
7. Various of Japanese national flags;
8. Car entering National Diet compound.

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