衆院解散「今秋の可能性高い」　公明党の石井幹事長

　公明党の石井啓一幹事長は１０日放送のＢＳテレ東番組で、衆院解散・総選挙の時期は今秋の可能性が高いとの認識を示した。自民党総裁選が９月にも行われるとした上で「選ばれた総裁は非常に支持率が高くなることがあるから、（衆院解散は）その後の秋が一番可能性が高いのではないか」と語った。番組は６日に収録された。（2024/03/10-11:22）

A Japanese ruling bloc official in a television program broadcast Sunday suggested the possibility of the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of parliament, being dissolved for a general election in autumn this year.
   Noting that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to hold a leadership election in September, Keiichi Ishii, secretary-general of Komeito, the coalition partner of the LDP, said that public support rates could be high for the LDP president who would be chosen in the poll and that dissolving the Lower House in autumn, after the election, therefore "may be the likeliest option."
   In the TV program, which was recorded Wednesday, Ishii also said the possibility is "not zero" that the Lower House will be dissolved at the end of the current regular parliamentary session.
   It depends on whether public support for the cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, also LDP president, will rise back after the LDP comes up with measures to prevent a recurrence of the slush funds scandal now rocking the party, Ishii said.
   The ongoing parliamentary session is currently scheduled to end on June 23.