Japan's incoming prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said on Monday he will call a general election for Oct. 27 following his victory in one of the closest ever leadership races for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

TOKYO (AP) — Shigeru Ishiba, the head of Japan’s governing party, plans to call a parliamentary election to be held on Oct. 27 after he is elected as prime minister on Tuesday.

Japan’s incoming prime minister Shigeru Ishiba is poised to call a snap election for the end of the month, according to media reports, days after he promised to lift his party’s dwindling fortunes and “put a smile” back on the faces of the public.