Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at his office on Dec. 27 (Koichi Ueda)

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Dec. 27 indicated that he might dissolve the Lower House and call a snap election before raising taxes to finance increases in defense spending.

The government has approved plans to raise defense spending to 43 trillion yen ($312 billion) over the five years through fiscal 2027.

A ruling coalition research panel said in rather vague terms that taxes should be raised “at an appropriate time in 2024 or thereafter” to help cover the larger defense outlays.

Public surveys show a majority of voters are against higher tax rates for defense spending.

Appearing on a TV program aired by BS-TBS Inc. on Dec. 27, Kishida was asked if he should seek a public mandate on the future tax hikes.

“We will decide from now on when (the tax increases) will start, but I think a general election will be held by then,” he said.

The current four-year term of Lower House members expires in October 2025.

Kishida also denied a report that his ruling Liberal Democratic Party was considering adding the Democratic Party for the People to the ruling coalition with Komeito.

“I’m not thinking of such a major change right now that would affect the coalition’s current combination,” he said.

In another TV program aired by Fuji Television Network Inc. on Dec. 25, LDP policy chief Koichi Hagiuda backed the holding of a general election to seek a public mandate on tax hikes.

“When we set a clear direction (for the increase in defense spending), we will need to ask the public to judge our decision at some point,” he said.

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