By KOHEI MORIOKA/ Staff Writer
June 12, 2025 at 14:32 JST
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a Diet session on June 11. (Wataru Sekita)
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba decided against dissolving the Lower House for a snap election as the threat of an opposition-led no-confidence motion against his Cabinet has subsided, senior government officials said June 11.
But he will keep the option on the table if the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan hardens its stance and decides to go ahead with the no-confidence motion, according to sources.
Taking a more bullish stance against the opposition, Ishiba, who is leading a minority government, had told aides that he would dissolve the Lower House to counter a potential CDP no-confidence motion before the ordinary Diet session closes on June 22.
Such a dissolution would prevent a vote on the motion and lead to the holding of simultaneous elections for both Diet chambers next month.
However, CDP President Yoshihiko Noda is not expected to sponsor a no-confidence motion, senior party officials have said.
To pass the motion, the CDP would need help from other opposition parties. But two of them, Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) and the Democratic Party for the People, have taken a cautious stance toward jointly sponsoring a no-confidence motion.
In opinion polls by media outlets, Cabinet approval ratings have started to recover due in part to agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s initiatives to lower rice prices by releasing government reserves to the market.
The Upper House election is expected to be held on July 20, with official campaigning likely to kick off on July 3.
Noda also appears concerned about how a no-confidence motion could affect the CDP’s chances in simultaneous elections.
If a no-confidence motion is submitted, Ishiba and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party could accuse the CDP of sidelining the government in its efforts to eliminate U.S. tariffs.
In addition, the CDP appears ill-prepared for simultaneous elections, according to sources.
Ishiba does not plan to dissolve the lower chamber without the challenge of a no-confidence motion because the previous Lower House election was held as recently as October.
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