This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-41385735
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Japan's PM Shinzo Abe calls snap election | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called an election a year early and will dissolve parliament on Thursday. | |
| He also announced a 2tn yen ($1.78bn, £13.2bn) stimulus package on education, debt reduction and social spending. | |
| Mr Abe's announcement comes as his approval ratings have rebounded from a record low over the summer and with the opposition largely in disarray. | |
| His support has surged with rising tensions with North Korea overshadowing criticism for alleged cronyism. | |
| In a press conference on Monday evening, Mr Abe said the fresh stimulus was needed for education and social programmes to prepare Japan for the future. | |
| He also said he would continue on his path of fiscal reform and would use the revenue from the recently introduced sales tax to balance the budget and reduce debt. | |
| Why snap elections? | |
| Analysts see the early vote as his way to seize the resurgent support and exploit the current weakness of the opposition. | |
| For months, Mr Abe's popular support has been badly hit by a string of scandals and unpopular policies. | |
| In July, his ratings had dropped to less than 30% but then recovered to above 50% in September. | |
| He denies allegations of cronyism and on Monday said dissolving the lower house was not an attempt at avoiding those allegations. | |
| Mr Abe is also is trying to push through a widely unpopular shift in Japan's post-war pacifist defence policy, calling for formal recognition of the military in the constitution. |