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TOKYO: Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has dissolved parliament Tuesday ahead of a general election late next month, after receiving official endorsement from his cabinet.“I have decided to dissolve the lower house,” Aso said at a cabinet meeting, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura.
“Dissolution is necessary in order for us to gain more understanding and cooperation of the Japanese people,” Aso said, Kawamura told reporters.
Emperor Akihito would give his symbolic assent, and the lower house would convene at 0400 GMT for the dissolution.
Aso’s cabinet would meet again to officially set the schedule for the next election.
The move came after Aso, who remains chronically unpopular according to polls and has faced open party revolt, told reporters last week of his plan to dissolve parliament this week and to hold general elections on August 30.