TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio is not planning to call a snap general election during the current parliamentary session through June 23, government and ruling coalition officials said Wednesday.

Kishida is looking to focus on diplomacy and economic revitalization for the time being to turn around his fortunes, after his ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered a string of losses in recent national and local elections amid growing public distrust in politics over a slush funds scandal involving the LDP.

The prime minister has told aides that he is only thinking about completing the parliamentary session after enacting key legislation, according to the government and ruling coalition officials.

He may seek to schedule an election for the House of Representatives this autumn if he wins re-election in the LDP’s leadership race expected for September.

Kishida had initially been planning to call a Lower House election during the current parliamentary session and win it, after which he would seek re-election as LDP president.

But public dissatisfaction over the LDP’s handling of those implicated in the slush funds scandal has sent the Kishida cabinet’s approval ratings plummeting to record lows. The LDP lost three Lower House by-elections in April and the Shizuoka gubernatorial election in May.

Many in the ruling bloc oppose an early Lower House election.

“A massive defeat is unavoidable” if an election is called in the current situation, a former cabinet member from the LDP said.

YAMAGUCHI Natsuo, chief of the LDP’s junior coalition partner, Komeito, told reporters Tuesday that “public distrust in politics remains deep-rooted,” seeking a cautious decision on a possible election.

Amid such challenges, Kishida hopes to boost support for his administration by racking up achievements. Parliament passed a bill on Wednesday to drastically expand child allowances, and his signature fixed-amount tax cuts began this month.

He is set to take part in important diplomatic events, such as a meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven major democracies in Italy next week.

But it is unclear whether such feats can pave for him a path to victory in the LDP leadership election. A senior LDP member said that dissatisfaction is growing in the party after Kishida made concessions in talks on amending the political funds control law.

Another senior LDP member said Kishida may come under pressure to step down. Referring to a possible general election and a House of Councillors election in summer next year, the LDP member said, “Everyone will start moves while thinking about their own elections.”

JIJI Press