Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga's resounding win in yesterday's ruling party election to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has fuelled talk of a snap election to allow the new leader to cement his position with a public mandate.
Although Mr Suga dodged a question about this, Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Defence Minister Taro Kono have both said they expect a snap election next month. A general election is due in October next year.
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