Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will likely dissolve the House of Representatives in spring or later, according to sources in the government and ruling parties.
As novel coronavirus infections have been spreading nationwide, Suga has concluded that it is necessary to quickly pass a third supplementary budget for fiscal 2020 and a regular budget for fiscal 2021 at an ordinary Diet session, which will be convened as early as mid-January.
This will allow the government to commit to focusing on balancing coronavirus measures and economic activities, according to several sources.
Arrangements are being made for the ordinary Diet session to be convened on Jan. 18.
The government hopes to pass the third supplementary budget by the end of January and the fiscal 2021 budget by the end of March. By compiling an integrated budget to cover a 15-month period, the government aims to implement seamless measures to combat the surge in infections.
"A lower house dissolution this fiscal year is unlikely," a senior ruling party member said, reflecting a widespread view within the government and the ruling parties.
Suga has also indicated to those close to him that he intends to focus on such policies as measures to combat the coronavirus and the creation of a digital agency for the time being.
Suga's term as president of the Liberal Democratic Party will end in September 2021, and the term of lower house members will expire in October of the same year.
Following the passage of the fiscal 2021 budget, Suga is expected to time the dissolution of the lower house based on the infection situation, among other factors.
The possibility of dissolving the lower house after the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics next summer has also been speculated.
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