Japan to hold general elections on December 16th

Japanese voters will go to the polls for a general election on December 16th.  Ahead of that date, political parties will be busy coming up with election pledges and deciding on candidates to field, (NHK World) website reported.  During Diet debate with opposition leaders on Wednesday, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda suggested he will dissolve the Lower House on Friday.  But that\'s only if the opposition parties agree to commit to the downsizing of the Lower House before next year\'s ordinary session of the Diet.  As the largest opposition Liberal Democratic Party agreed to cooperate, the ruling Democratic Party of Japan has decided on the election itinerary. The ruling and the opposition agreed to reduce the vote-value disparity during the current diet session and will discuss the reduction in the number of seats in the Diet.  The election will be contested on issues such as the raising the consumption tax, social security and tax reforms, anti-deflationary economy-boosting measures, as well as denuclearization and renewable energy policies.