Campaigning for by-elections to fill four House of Representative seats officially kicked off Tuesday.
Government measures to combat price hikes, child-rearing support and moves to boost the nation's defense capabilities are expected to be highlighted during campaigning, with ruling and opposition parties positioning the by-elections as "a mid-term referendum" on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration.
Voting and ballot counting are scheduled for April 23 for the lower house by-elections in Chiba Constituency No. 5, Wakayama Constituency No. 1, and Yamaguchi Constituencies No. 2 and No. 4, as well as a by-election for a House of Councillors seat for the Oita prefectural constituency, for which campaigning started on April 6. April 23 is also the polling day for the second half of unified local elections.
