Japan's general election may be held late October:

report Fri Sep 12, 11:59 PM ET

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's ruling coalition is considering bringing forward general elections to October 26, a newspaper said Saturday.


The coalition, led by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), had originally considered holding the next election on November 9 to allow sufficient time to prepare for the campaign, the Yomiuri Shimbun said.


The LDP is to hold its presidential election on September 22 to replace Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who announced his resignation earlier this month. A new LDP leader will secure the nation's premiership.

October 26 emerged as the favourite date because the coalition wants to use the momentum from the LDP election, the mass-circulation daily said, quoting coalition sources.

A final decision on a general election date will be made by the new LDP president. Taro Aso, a conservative former foreign minister, is the favourite.