Japan faces likely fall vote as Suga waits for COVID recovery

With vaccinations picking up, prime minister expected to dissolve lower house in September

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's government is weighing a major economic stimulus package as early as this summer in hopes of bolstering its chances in a likely fall election. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)

Nikkei staff writers

June 9, 2021 20:07 JST

Updated on June 9, 2021 23:10 JST

TOKYO -- The lower house of the Japanese parliament is likely to be dissolved in September, with the first general election under Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga following soon thereafter.

After a slow start, the government is accelerating its COVID-19 vaccination rollout ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which start in July. The government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are increasingly confident that the coronavirus pandemic will have dissipated to the point where it will be possible to hold an election in the fall.