Kyodo News reporting a source saying....>

JAPAN PRESS: Kyodo News reporting a source saying that Deputy PM Taro Aso has

called a snap election in the autumn "preferable".

- The current parliamentary term runs until 22 October 2021, meaning an election

can be held at any time up until that point. 

- PM Shinzo Abe is in his third consecutive term in office, and his fourth

overall and is the longest serving PM in Japanese history. 

- Unclear whether he will lead his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) into the next

election. Tokyo Olympics were seen as a potential point for an exit, but there

remains a major issue in the proposed referendum on revising Article 9 of the

constitution, a key aim of Abe's time in office.

- Proposed revision would legitimise the Japan Self-Defense Forces, in effect

allowing Japan a full standing army for the first time since WWII. 

- To gain a referendum on reforming Art.9 there needs to be a 2/3 majority in

both houses of the Diet. LDP and allies hold this in lower house, but not upper

house. Even if an election achieves 2/3 majorities in both houses, there is no

guarantee the reform would pass a referendum.