In the Nikkei - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided to dissolve the lower house for a snap election next month
- The report says Abe will make a final decision on Friday
- Likely date October 22
More:
- Abe told Natsuo Yamaguchi, the leader of coalition partner Komeito, and others of his plans to call an election
- Abe met with Ryu Shionoya, the campaign strategy chief for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, for about an hour at his private home Sunday night
- Abe told Shionoya that he will make a final decision on the timing of the election after he returns from New York on Friday
PM Abe keeps us guessing
If the election were called, the likely timings:
- Abe would be likely will dissolve the lower house as soon as the Diet convenes on September 28
- October 22 the likelt date, although the 17th or 29th are also possible
- In either case, the three lower house by-elections scheduled for October 22 would be cancelled
