Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday he would dissolve his government by week's end and called for elections after economic data earlier this week showed his country has slipped into a recession.
Abe also said he would delay a planned sales tax hike for October 2015.
Abe made his announcements at a news conference. As the Associated Press reported:
"I've been pondering this problem," Abe told a news conference. "Even if we raise the tax as planned, tax revenue will not increase if the economy does not recover."
Abe said he will dissolve parliament on Friday, setting an election for mid-December to seek public approval for his decision, which he said was needed to ensure the success of his "Abenomics" policies of extreme monetary easing, heavy government spending and economic reforms.
"I need to hear the voice of the people," Abe said. "I will step down if we fail to keep our majority because that would mean our Abenomics is rejected."