Japan's major opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), submitted a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet on Friday, according to local media. 

The move came moments after Japan's upper house of parliament approved a bill designed to substantially boost the country's defense spending, which is opposed by the CDP.

It also came two days after Kishida said he would dissolve the lower house if a no-confidence vote was submitted, a call he then retracted on Thursday, saying he had instructed officials of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to vote against it. Any such vote would mainly be symbolic given the LDP's parliamentary majority.

Talk of a dissolution surfaced a few weeks ago as Kishida's support ratings rose in the days after his hosting of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima, his home base.

While the opposition handed Kishida a reason to dissolve the lower house and call a snap election, the no-confidence motion is expected to be rejected by the ruling party later on Friday, according to Fuji News Network.

Some LDP lawmakers had been in favor of an early election given the tailwind of a surging stock market and a fragmented and weak opposition, but risks have also arisen in recent days.

Criticism has grown over national identification card issues and a furore over a party thrown by Kishida's son – his former political secretary – at the prime minister's official residence. Both situations prompted some ruling party policymakers to call for caution about an election soon.

An election for parliament's lower house is not due until 2025, but Kishida faces a party leadership race next year.

(Cover: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends the House of Representatives Committee on Audit and Oversight of Administration at the Diet building in Tokyo, June 12, 2023. /CFP)

(With input from Reuters)