TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Wednesday that he had no plans to dissolve the country’s lower house because of the severity of the coronavirus situation.
Domestic media reported this week that he intended to dissolve the lower house of parliament in mid-September after a cabinet reshuffle next week. Reports also said that the premier was considering holding the general election on Oct. 17.
Suga’s denial of these reports comes after several days of tense negotiations and sudden twists involving Suga and the most powerful politicians in the ruling camp as the unpopular prime minister manoeuvres to stay in the top job.
“We can’t dissolve the lower house in this current situation,” said Suga, speaking of the severity of the coronavirus pandemic.
When asked whether that meant he would let members of the lower house of parliament serve their full terms, which end Oct. 21, Suga avoided a direct answer.
“There are no plans to push back the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, and we will work around the dates available for the general election,” he said. The LDP leadership race is slated to be held on Sept. 29.
Support for Suga has hit record lows recently, with approval ratings dipping to 26% according to a Mainichi newspaper poll published late last week. The Nikkei daily put his ratings at 34%, in line with a record low hit in its survey last month.
(Reporting by Sakura Murakami; Editing by Tom Hogue and Gerry Doyle)
