Japan's Ishiba seen calling Oct. 27 election after becoming prime minister

Ex-defense minister decides to dissolve lower house to seek public mandate

Shigeru Ishiba is poised to become Japan's next prime minister in an extraordinary session of the parliament on Oct. 1. © Kyodo

September 30, 2024 01:39 JST

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's new ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader, Shigeru Ishiba, who is certain to become the next prime minister, intends to call a general election for Oct. 27, senior party officials said Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Ishiba, a former defense minister, decided to dissolve the House of Representatives in October to seek a public mandate after engaging in parliamentary debates with opposition parties, sources close to him said.