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Japan's PM calls August election Japan's PM calls August election
(10 minutes later)
Japan's embattled Prime Minister, Taro Aso, will call a general election for 30 August.Japan's embattled Prime Minister, Taro Aso, will call a general election for 30 August.
His office said he had agreed the date with his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and coalition partner, if bills already before parliament were passed first.His office said he had agreed the date with his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and coalition partner, if bills already before parliament were passed first.
The Kyodo news agency reported that Mr Aso had told party lawmakers parliament would be dissolved on 21 July.The Kyodo news agency reported that Mr Aso had told party lawmakers parliament would be dissolved on 21 July.
The move comes after Mr Aso's ruling coalition suffered a crucial defeat in local elections in the capital, Tokyo.The move comes after Mr Aso's ruling coalition suffered a crucial defeat in local elections in the capital, Tokyo.
The opposition Democratic Party (DPJ) won 54 seats to 38 for LDP, ending four decades of dominance in the assembly.The opposition Democratic Party (DPJ) won 54 seats to 38 for LDP, ending four decades of dominance in the assembly.
Mr Aso has approval ratings of around 20% and has been facing open rebellion from within his own party.Mr Aso has approval ratings of around 20% and has been facing open rebellion from within his own party.
He had widely been expected to dissolve parliament following the Tokyo election defeat on Sunday.He had widely been expected to dissolve parliament following the Tokyo election defeat on Sunday.
He could also now be under increasing pressure to quit as LDP leader before the national poll, which must be held before October.He could also now be under increasing pressure to quit as LDP leader before the national poll, which must be held before October.
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says it appears that Mr Aso has jumped before being pushed.The BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says it appears that Mr Aso has jumped before being pushed.
Election callElection call
Earlier, a senior LDP official, Nobuteru Ishihara, said the party was afraid the results would have a significant impact on the general election.Earlier, a senior LDP official, Nobuteru Ishihara, said the party was afraid the results would have a significant impact on the general election.
The leader of the DPJ, Yukio Hatoyama, had called on Mr Aso to "ask for the people's voice by dissolving the lower house and calling a general election".The leader of the DPJ, Yukio Hatoyama, had called on Mr Aso to "ask for the people's voice by dissolving the lower house and calling a general election".
"In the Tokyo assembly election, people strongly showed their dissatisfaction as a result of how national politics and state politics are being run," he said."In the Tokyo assembly election, people strongly showed their dissatisfaction as a result of how national politics and state politics are being run," he said.
"The voters are saying no both to metropolitan politics and to national politics.""The voters are saying no both to metropolitan politics and to national politics."
But many in Mr Aso's party fear such calling a snap election would be political suicide, says our correspondent. But many in Mr Aso's party fear that calling a snap election would be political suicide, says our correspondent.
They would prefer he resigned and a new leader led them in polls closer to the October deadline. They would prefer he resigned and a new leader be chosen for polls closer to the October deadline.
Mr Aso is the fourth prime minister since the last election to the more powerful lower house in 2005.Mr Aso is the fourth prime minister since the last election to the more powerful lower house in 2005.
His LDP party has governed Japan for the past half-century, except for a break of less than a year in the 1990s.His LDP party has governed Japan for the past half-century, except for a break of less than a year in the 1990s.
But the DPJ has promised to break the grip of the bureaucracy on policy making and increase social welfare measures.But the DPJ has promised to break the grip of the bureaucracy on policy making and increase social welfare measures.
Its support, however, has been eroded by fundraising scandals - Mr Hatoyama recently had to apologise after it emerged that the names of dead people were included on listed of party donors. Its support, however, has been eroded by fundraising scandals - Mr Hatoyama recently had to apologise after it emerged that the names of dead people were included on lists of party donors.