Politics Japan's head of government dissolves House of Representatives ahead of new election

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has dissolved the Japanese House of Representatives in order to prepare for a new election on October 27 and secure a mandate from voters for his government. The 67-year-old had only succeeded Fumio Kishida as head of government on October 1.

The fragmented and weak opposition criticized the early election date as it did not allow enough time for debate.

Ishiba has set himself the goal of renewing his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has been rocked by corruption scandals. The political veteran was Minister of Defense from 2007 to 2008 and later Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Minister of Rural Revitalization.