Japan: PM Shinzo Abe calls for a snap election on Oct. 22

Event

On Monday, September 25, Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe announced his intent to dissolve parliament’s lower house effective on Thursday, September 28, and called for a snap election to take place next month. Heightened tensions with North Korea have helped Abe regain support, and may help him retain his coalition’s two-thirds majority in the lower house. The election will take place on October 22.

Context

Damaged by a series of scandals, Abe’s low approval rating has recently experienced a rebound, largely attributed to his hard line against North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.

Advice

Individuals present in the country are advised to monitor developments to the situation and to avoid all political gatherings.