Abe says he'll decide timing of election on return from U.N. trip

Already pre announced the announcement so there should be no shock if he "Suddenly " decides to have a SMAP erection.

Lol, gotta love the 'democratic' process

Remember this upcoming election will cost billions and billions of yen and then the Japanese tax man will come around with his hand open demanding we give them more of our ever-shrinking paycheck.

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Have a happy smile day!

@Alfie

there you have it!!!!! all the rest is just theatre...

since it's a Parliament the LDP would still win but there's no reason to re-elect Abe

Support for Abe's government has been up lately. Economy showing some positive signs. The largest opposition party, DP, is in the worst state. The Koike's new national party is not ready yet. NKorea is going crazy. It's the best time for LDP to do a snap election.

Economy showing some positive signs.

True! You can see that by the sudden increase in disposable income that everyone is splashing around. Or maybe it's the dancing in the streets that gave me that impression...

Why does he have to go to UN? Avoid all the problems in Japan to take a rest in his first-class airplane or happy to meet his boss Trump to attend the meeting in UN?

I want to know what excuse he will use for calling this sham election. Will he finally state openly his desire to change the constitution? I doubt it. IT will be about North Korea and Abenomics again, and the sheeple of Japan will buy it up once again.

The cynic in me views Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is guided by his shrewd political astuteness in responding to events with razor sharp propensity to create maximum media attention span.

Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike popularity is no match for Abe sans ability to dominate the agenda so marginalising opponents.   

Abe is scheduled to speak at the U.N. General Assembly and the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, and is seeking to arrange meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in before returning to Japan on Friday.

Not forgetting a round of golf with President Trump. Every opponent or contender within the diet or emerging from the party has been either jettisoned or sidelined.   

There is one major hindrance. The directorship of North Korea hitherto have failed to comply with a single U.N. Security Council resolution. Neither the Governments of China and Russia will support fully a policy of punitive sanctions. So the unthinkable devastation of military action which will draw closer.

Shinzo Abe strategy has been, in many respects, to tag along patiently/astutely playing the waiting game. A policy that could leave Abe san politically exposed.  Pyongyang could call Abe san bluff slap bang in the middle of an election campaign. With President Trump in twitter overdrive creating politcal turmoil.

since it's a Parliament the LDP would still win but there's no reason to re-elect Abe

And just whom do you think is electing Abe as PM?

The New China. Isn't this his third snap election? or is it just the second? The first cost... what? a few billion in tax payer's money just for this man's bloated ego? I would hope this is a good chance for all those who don't want NPPs back online, all our money put into military, and the Constitution changed and/or Secrets Law and Terrorism laws introduced to stand up and vote in someone else. But they won't. They'll say "Shouga nai" and not turn out to vote, and Abe will win, saying it's a mandate to do all of those things. Make no mistake, it's not a democracy when you can just up and call an election and control it when you know the opposition can do nothing. China does the same thing in Hong Kong.