Coalition Cracks May Not Stop Japan’s Kishida From Calling Early Vote
- LDP and Komeito at odds over candidates in Tokyo districts
- Kishida may be looking at election in July or autumn
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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may head into an early election despite a public rift in his 24-year-old coalition, given that putting off the vote would be an even more unpalatable prospect.
A stock market at three-decade highs, an economy expanding faster than expected and a rise in poll numbers could lead to Kishida to call a general election in July or the autumn. This is before he needs to decide in late 2023 how to fund increased spending on defense and boosting the birthrate — which may mean unpopular tax hikes.