TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dissolved the lower house of parliament on Thursday, paving the way for a snap election on Oct 22.

Abe is widely seen as trying to reconsolidate his grip on power within the ruling Liberal-Democratic Party, so he can extend the term of his premiership next year. The dissolution of the more powerful of Japan’s two-chamber parliament comes more than a year before required by law.

The ruling party, though, faces a growing challenge from a new party launched by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike this week. The Party of Hope has energised some voters, and is gaining renegade lawmakers from the main opposition party.

The speaker of the house, Tadamori Oshima, read the statement of dissolution. Lower house members all stood up and chanted “banzai” three times in a dissolution ritual, then rushed out of the assembly hall.

Minutes after the dissolution, Abe made a fiery speech to party members. He said he is seeking a public mandate on his tougher diplomatic and defence policies to deal with escalating threats from North Korea and that his party members would have to relay his message to gain support from voters during the campaign.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2017