Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to dissolve the Lower House next week for a quick election to seek a public mandate over postponing a consumption tax hike. Abe is likely to announce the dissolution as early as next Tuesday after returning from his 9-day overseas tour. Considering the recent economic situation, Abe is said to have decided to postpone the next consumption tax hike by one-and-a-half years to April 2017. The consumption tax hike has already been enacted by Parliament. Changing the date of its introduction requires revisions of legislation during the ordinary Diet session next year. A general election is likely to take place on December 14th, with official campaigning starting on December 2nd.
The purpose of consumption tax hike was for the improve of deficit financing, welfare, bringing up children and care etc. We were in financial difficulties. If he sets the general election, we must use money over about 800 million dollar (70billion yen). It is complete waste of money. We can use the money for the poor old people, children or education if he don’t set such useless election. If they want to postpone the tax hike , they can it easily without the dissolution and election, because they are overwhelmingly majority in the Diet. There is no justice to set election in this timing but only futility. In this important season, the member of the Diet who think about the dissolution and general election are completely foolish. I doubt their common sense.