Japan PM dissolves parliament, planning Dec. vote

(AP) Japan PM dissolves parliament, planning Dec. vote
TOKYO
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has dissolved the lower house of Japan’s parliament, paving the way for a general election likely to end his Democratic Party of Japan’s three-year hold on power.

Noda followed through Friday on an earlier pledge to call elections after the opposition Liberal Democratic Party agreed to back several key pieces of legislation, including a deficit financing bill and electoral reforms.

The Cabinet was expected to quickly announce elections for Dec. 16.

The election will likely result in a weak coalition government divided over how to fix the country’s myriad problems.

Although the LDP, which led Japan for most of the post-World War II era, may win the most seats in the 480-seat lower house, polls show it will fall far short of a majority.