PM Says 'No Plan' For Snap Election

Wires reporting comments from Japanese PM Fumio Kishida saying that there is "no plan at the moment to call a snap election" This comes despite headlines announcing a 'new economic package". Kishida states that on 26 Sep he is to instruct ministers to compile a new economic package, with the aim of "moving from a cost cut-led economy to one with active investment".

• Kishida: the new economic package "aims to protect people's lives from rising prices" and that "private consumption and capital expenditure lack strength, being unstable".
• Says that the gov't will "swiftly compile extra budget to fund new economic package." Kishida gov't "to strengthen tax breaks to boost wage hikes".
• Kishida: "Important for currency market to move stably, reflecting fundamentals....Will continue to monitor forex moves closely with high sense of urgency....Excessive forex moves are undesirable"
• The next general election does not have to take place until Oct 2025. However, there has been speculation that Kishida could hold a snap poll in late 2023 or early 2024 in an effort to shore up his position ahead of the September 2024 leadership conference for his governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Kishida's low approval ratings could see a challenge to his leadership emerge at the LDP conference, something that a strong general election performance could avoid.