Japan PM dissolves lower house for Oct. 31 national election

Japan’s new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has dissolved the lower house of parliament, paving the way for Oct. 31 national elections

TOKYO -- Japan’s new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dissolved the lower house of parliament Thursday, paving the way for Oct. 31 national elections.

Kishida said he is seeking the public’s mandate for his policies after being elected prime minister by parliament only 10 days ago to replace Yoshihide Suga.

Tadamori Oshima, the speaker of the more powerful lower chamber, announced the dissolution at a plenary session.

At the announcement, all 465 lower house lawmakers stood up, shouted “banzai” three times and left. They've now lost their seats and official campaigning for a new lower house begins Tuesday.