Japanese prime minister Taro Aso dissolved parliament's lower house today for an election on August 30th and vowed to restore voters' faith in his fractious ruling party, which polls show is in danger of a historic defeat.
A victory by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan would end more than 50 years of near-unbroken rule by the conservative Liberal Democratic Party and raise the chances of breaking a deadlock caused by a divided parliament that has stymied policy implementation as Japan struggles to emerge from recession.
It would also usher in a government pledging to pay more heed to consumers than companies, to wrest control of policy from bureaucrats to cut waste, and to adopt a diplomatic stance less subservient to close ally the United States.
"This is a major, revolutionary election to allow politicians to take the lead in Japanese government," Democratic Party leader Yukio Hatoyama told party members. "We should face it with a sense of historic mission."
A spate of opinion polls show the Democrats well ahead of Mr Aso's LDP among voters, though close to 30 per cent are still undecided.
Mr Aso's announcement of his election plan last week -- one day after the LDP was trounced in a closely watched Tokyo assembly poll -- sparked chaos in the LDP, with critics trying to oust him from the top party post.
Party heavyweights blocked the move, but agreed Mr Aso should appear at a meeting of LDP lawmakers to hear their complaints.
In remarks carried live on nationwide TV, Mr Aso apologised for his failings and admitted that the party's internal chaos had contributed to recent local election losses.
"I am firmly resolved that we will sincerely accept the people's feelings, will and criticism and start afresh," he said, vowing to stay in his post until the economy recovered.
All cabinet members, including finance minister Kaoru Yosano, who some had earlier speculated might refuse, signed off on the election plan today, health minister Yoichi Masuzoe said.
LDP lawmakers stifled their criticism of Mr Aso as they turned their attention to the tough election fight ahead.
"At this point we have no choice but to be united before the election," upper house lawmaker Hiroshige Seko told reporters.
Mr Aso, the 68-year-old grandson of a prime minister, took office last September and has seen voter support slide due to policy flip-flops, gaffes and scandals.
The Democrats have had their own troubles, with one leader forced to resign in May after a fundraising scandal ensnared a close aide and current party chief Hatoyama under fire after admitting some people listed as his political donors were dead.
The LDP has made clear that it will target Mr Hatoyama's funding affair while attacking the Democrats, an amalgam of former LDP members, ex-socialists and younger conservatives, as weak on security policy and irresponsible on finances.
Mr Aso is scheduled to give a news conference later in the day. The prime minister may have in mind a news conference by the charismatic Junichiro Koizumi when he called an election in 2005.
Despite early predictions that the LDP would fare badly, Mr Koizumi electrified voters and led the party to a huge victory.
Reuters