Tokyo: Shigeru Ishiba announced a general election before assuming office as Prime Minister of Japan. After assuming office as Prime Minister on Tuesday, he announced that the Parliament elections will be held on October 27.

He mentioned the election date when he announced the top party leadership on Monday ahead of the cabinet formation. He said that the announcement of the date is not official as he has not taken charge as the Prime Minister and the election preparations should be made in the short time left. Ishiba will take over after current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida steps down this week. Last Tuesday, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chose Ishiba as the next prime minister.

The LDP, which has ruled Japan for several years since World War II, is facing allegations of corruption. Ishibak, a former minister and defense policy expert, is expected to restore the party’s image. The other day, he stated that Japan’s security needs to be strengthened in the wake of North Korea’s missile tests and the violation of its airspace by Russia and China.