Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida responds to a question at a news conference in Tokyo on June 13. (Koichi Ueda)

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida offered few clues on growing speculation he plans to dissolve the Lower House for a snap election before the current ordinary Diet session closes on June 21.

“I will judge when the timing is right by taking various circumstances into consideration,” Kishida told a news conference at the prime minister’s office on June 13.

There is much talk among lawmakers, both within the ruling coalition and the opposition camp, over whether the prime minister will call a snap election as early as next week.

Kishida said he has been steering the government with a sense of mission to solve difficult challenges that were left unaddressed, both in foreign and domestic affairs.

“I will make a judgement (on when to dissolve the Lower House) in the light of this basic stance,” he said.

The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is considering submitting a no-confidence motion against the Kishida Cabinet over a bill to establish a fund to finance a massive defense buildup.

Kishida declined to answer whether he would dissolve the Lower House if the motion is submitted.

“Various developments are expected toward the end of the Diet session,” he said. “I intend to closely watch the situation.”

Kishida also said the government will complete an overall review of the embattled My Number Card system by autumn.

He had instructed the Digital Agency and other entities to make a comprehensive check on related data and systems following a long list of problems.

To prevent human error when inputting data, Kishida said, “We will automate procedures as much as possible and establish a framework to check accuracy through multiple means depending on the situation on the ground.”

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