Japan's cabinet approves dissolution of lower house  

日本国会众院解散 内阁将举行会议确定选举日程

The Japanese cabinet on Friday approved a resolution to dissolve the parliament's lower house later in the day and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to call a snap general election slated for Dec. 14.

Cabinet members have signed on the resolution, which will submit to the Japanese emperor for approval, said local reports. The lower house will be dissolved after the emperor-approved resolution is announced at a plenary of the lower house in the afternoon.

The cabinet is expected to decide during an extra cabinet meeting the election plan with the official campaign on Dec. 2 and the voting procedure slated for Dec. 14, according to the reports.

About the coming election, a total of 475 seats will be elected, compared to the 480 seats in the 2012 general election. Two hundred and ninety-five of the 475 seats will be elected from single-seat districts and the remaining 180 from proportional representation.

Party or bloc that wins the majority of the lower house in the election will name the candidate for the new prime minister.

Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds 295 seats in the chamber. The ruling bloc that also groups the LDP's small partner the Komeito Party takes over two thirds of the total seats.

Abe announced Tuesday the postponement of second sales tax hike that planned in October 2015 due to sluggish economic performance and he turns to vote to judge his decision.