Japan's PM expected to call December election

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan made the surprise announcement on Wednesday that Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will dissolve the lower house on Friday and call for a general election to be held next month.

Observers said the Noda cabinet faces more ups and downs as the general election approaches, adding that opposition parties are far from achieving a major triumph. The arrival of a number of small parties on the political scene has divided voters' attention.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda (right) and main opposition Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe during a parliamentary debate in Tokyo on Wednesday. KIM KYUNG-HOON / REUTERS

Jun Azumi, DPJ deputy party secretary general, indicated on Wednesday that Japan will hold a general election on Dec 16, AFP reported.

"We will quickly draft our campaign platform, as the official campaign will start on Dec 4," Azumi said, referring to the start of a 12-day period that will come ahead of polling day.

Noda uttered the words "this Friday" for possible but conditional dissolution of the lower house during a cross-party debate in the Diet on Wednesday.

"I think I could dissolve the lower house Friday," if the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party made promises on issues including electoral reform, Noda was quoted by Japan's Kyodo News as saying during a debate with LDP leader Shinzo Abe.

He was referring to a proposed bill that will cut seats in the lower house allotted through proportional representation.

Shortly afterward, the LDP decided to cooperate on the proposed reforms, to help pave the way for an early general election, said LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba.

The leading opposition party made the decision at a meeting of executives held soon after the prime minister promised to dissolve the lower chamber.

Noda's previous promise to dissolve the lower house was scoffed at by Abe.

On April 8 Noda pledged to dissolve the lower house and call for a general election "sometime soon" as required by the LDP for its last-minute support of a controversial tax increase bill.