Kishida To Hold 1800JST Presser To Mark End Of Parliamentary Session

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will hold a press conferenceat 1800JST (0500ET, 1000BST, 1100CET) to mark the end of the current session of the National Diet (parliament). Kishida is expected to face questions regarding the controversial 'My Number' ID card project that has seen public concerns rise regarding the use of their personal data and issues with the system.

• Kishida has promised the creation of a task force to address the problems led by senior figure in Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Minister for Digital Transformation Kono Taro.
• According to the latest Kyodo News poll, approval for Kishida and his cabinet has fallen from 47.0% in May to 40.8% in June, while his disapproval rating rises from 35.9% to 41.6%.
• The decline in approval ratings could cool speculation that Kishida could call a snap general election later in the year in an effort to shore up his position as LDP leader ahead of the next party leadership conference due in 2024.
• Observers have speculated that the extraordinary parliamentary session in the autumn could be the time Kishida pulls the trigger on any dissolution, and that a ministerial reshuffle over the summer may be a further sign of a snap election as the PM attempts to revitalise his gov'ts image before any vote.