Japan's PM dissolves parliament
Prime minister Yoshihiko Noda has dissolved the lower house of Japan’s parliament, paving the way for a general election likely to end his Democratic Party of Japan’s three-year hold on power.
Mr Noda today followed through on an earlier pledge to call elections after the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) agreed to back several key pieces of legislation, including a deficit financing bill and electoral reforms.
The Cabinet was expected to quickly announce elections for December 16.
The election is likely to result in a weak coalition government divided over how to fix the country’s myriad problems.
Although the LDP, which led Japan for most of the post-Second World War era, may win the most seats in the 480-seat lower house, polls show it will fall far short of a majority.
