安倍宣佈提前舉行選舉

Japan's prime minister has called for snap elections and delayed a controversial sales tax increase, as part of efforts to solidify his political support and fight off recession.

At a news conference Tuesday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced he will dissolve parliament this week and hold elections next Month, two years ahead of schedule.

No exact date for the election was given, but Japanese media reported it likely will be held sometime in mid-December, possibly December 14.

Mr. Abe also said he will put off raising the country's consumption tax for another 18 months, until April 2017.

The moves were expected after data on Monday showed Tokyo unexpectedly fell back into recession in the third quarter. Japan's economy has struggled following an initial sales tax hike in April.

The tax increases are part of the prime minister's efforts to reduce Japan's massive national debt, which is among the largest in the industralized world.

Mr. Abe took office in 2012, promising to improve the slumping economy through massive public stimulus spending and reforms. The plan is often called "Abenomics."

Despite the struggling economy, Mr. Abe's approval ratings remain relatively high. His Liberal Democratic Party has a solid majority in parliament and could stand to gain further ground with an early vote.日本首相安倍晉三要求提前舉行選舉, 並推遲實施有爭議的上調銷售稅計劃，以鞏固政治支持，避免經濟衰退。

安倍在星期二的記者會上宣佈本星期解散國會，並於12月提前兩個月舉行選舉。

他沒有透露具體的選舉日期，但是日本媒體報道說很可能在12月中旬，有可能是12月14日。

安倍還將提高銷售稅的時間推遲18個月，到2017年4月。

安倍的做法在人們意料之中。星期一公佈的第三季度經濟數據意外顯示，日本經濟再次陷入衰退。日本在工業化國家中負債最爲龐大。安倍提高銷售稅的目的是減少日本的鉅額債務。日本銷售稅今年4月初步上調之後，經濟出現問題。

安倍2012年出任首相時保證要通過大量公共開支和改革等刺激經濟發展。安倍的這個計劃常常被稱爲“安倍經濟學”。

雖然日本經濟不好，但安倍的支持率仍然比較高。他所在的自民黨擁有議會堅實多數，有可能在選舉中贏得更多席位。