Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Election Strategy Committee Chairman Ryu Shionoya indicated during a speech at a party meeting in Otsu City on Sept. 9 that there are five possible options for dissolving the House of Representatives: (1) at the beginning of the extraordinary Diet session, to coincide with the three Lower House by-elections [on Oct. 22]; (2) before the end of this year; (3) at the beginning of the regular Diet session next year; (4) after the passage of the FY18 budget next spring; and (5) around June next year, toward the end of the regular Diet session.

Shionoya said: “We must be prepared at all times,” calling for tighter organizational discipline in the run-up to the next Lower House election.