Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today dissolved the lower house of Parliament and called a general election. The general election will be held on October 22, with official campaigning set to start on October 10. Abe dissolved the lower house as soon as it convened at noon local time for an extraordinary session. The speaker of the house, Tadamori Oshima, read the statement of dissolution. The dissolution of the more powerful of Japan's two-chamber parliament comes more than a year before required by law.<br/><br/>Abe stunned Japan on Monday with a surprise call for a snap election, seeking to capitalise on a weak opposition and a boost in the polls, as voters welcome his hawkish North Korea policy.<br/><br/>But Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has upended Japanese politics in recent days, stealing Abe's limelight with her newly launched "Party of Hope" that seeks to shake up the country's political landscape. Koike's new party, formally unveiled on Wednesday, has attracted an influx of lawmakers from a wide range of ideological backgrounds and could unify opposition to Abe, presenting Japanese voters with a credible alternative to the premier.<br/><br/> Abe enjoyed a healthy lead in the polls of more than 30 points only a week ago but the gap appeared to have narrowed following Koike's high-profile announcement.<br/><br/>

<br/>Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today dissolved the lower house of Parliament and called a general election. The general election will be held on October 22, with official campaigning set to start on October 10. Abe dissolved the lower house as soon as it convened at noon local time for an extraordinary session. The speaker of the house, Tadamori Oshima, read the statement of dissolution. The dissolution of the more powerful of Japan's two-chamber parliament comes more than a year before required by law.<br/><br/>Abe stunned Japan on Monday with a surprise call for a snap election, seeking to capitalise on a weak opposition and a boost in the polls, as voters welcome his hawkish North Korea policy.<br/><br/>But Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has upended Japanese politics in recent days, stealing Abe's limelight with her newly launched "Party of Hope" that seeks to shake up the country's political landscape. Koike's new party, formally unveiled on Wednesday, has attracted an influx of lawmakers from a wide range of ideological backgrounds and could unify opposition to Abe, presenting Japanese voters with a credible alternative to the premier.<br/><br/> Abe enjoyed a healthy lead in the polls of more than 30 points only a week ago but the gap appeared to have narrowed following Koike's high-profile announcement.<br/><br/>

<br/><br/>Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today dissolved the lower house of Parliament and called a general election. The general election will be held on October 22, with official campaigning set to start on October 10. Abe dissolved the lower house as soon as it convened at noon local time for an extraordinary session. The speaker of the house, Tadamori Oshima, read the statement of dissolution. The dissolution of the more powerful of Japan's two-chamber parliament comes more than a year before required by law.<br/><br/>Abe stunned Japan on Monday with a surprise call for a snap election, seeking to capitalise on a weak opposition and a boost in the polls, as voters welcome his hawkish North Korea policy.<br/><br/>But Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has upended Japanese politics in recent days, stealing Abe's limelight with her newly launched "Party of Hope" that seeks to shake up the country's political landscape. Koike's new party, formally unveiled on Wednesday, has attracted an influx of lawmakers from a wide range of ideological backgrounds and could unify opposition to Abe, presenting Japanese voters with a credible alternative to the premier.<br/><br/> Abe enjoyed a healthy lead in the polls of more than 30 points only a week ago but the gap appeared to have narrowed following Koike's high-profile announcement.<br/><br/>