TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru on Saturday hinted at the possibility of holding a snap election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, on the same day as next summer’s election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber.

“It’s possible,” Ishiba told a television program. “There’s no rule that says (such a double election) can’t be held at the same time.”

The remark comes as Ishiba, who heads a minority government, could not survive a no-confidence motion against his cabinet if opposition parties table it together.

“Same-day elections for both chambers were held in the past under the cabinets of OHIRA Masayoshi and NAKASONE Yasuhiro,” Ishiba noted. “It’s important for us to let the people decide, not (hold an election) when we expect to win.”

In a speech on Friday, Ishiba said he may dissolve the Lower House if the government’s budget bill is rejected or if a no-confidence motion is passed.

With next year’s ordinary Diet session set to start on Jan. 24, the Upper House election is expected to be held on July 20 under the public offices election law, unless the session is extended.

If opposition parties including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan submit a no-confidence motion before the ordinary session ends on June 22 and the motion is passed, Ishiba seems likely to call a Lower House election on the same day as the Upper House election.

JIJI Press