More than 830 candidates are preparing to run in the next House of Representatives election, although both the both ruling and opposition camps are still trying to sort out arrangements for electoral alliances, according to a Kyodo News survey released Sunday.
As of Saturday, 740 candidates had announced plans to run in single-seat constituencies, while 92 were to run in the proportional representation section. The total of 832 is about 60 percent of the total in the previous Lower House election in 2000.
The four-year term of office for Lower House members will end June 24 next year, but an election could be held at any time if Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi decides to dissolve the house before then.
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