ニュース 2009/07/21 Lower House Dissolved - Official Election Campaign to Start on Aug. 18, Voting on Aug. 30 The House of Representatives was dissolved on July 21. The general election campaign will officially start on August 18 with voting to be held on August 30. By July 21, the DPJ had announced 264 official candidates (109 lawmakers who were serving at the time of the Lower House dissolution, 44 former members and 111 new candidates who have never served in the Diet) and recommended a total of 24 candidates from other opposition parties (nine from the People's New Party, 12 from the Social Democratic Party, one from New Party Nippon and two unaffiliated candidates). Although the official election campaign is yet to start, the DPJ’s campaign is already in full swing as DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama leads the campaign to achieve a change of government. Following the announcement of the dissolution of the House of Representatives, the DPJ released an official statement which concludes with the following words: “The DPJ will base its election campaign on squarely debating the policies outlined in our manifesto. Through cooperation with the other opposition parties we will aim to achieve a change of government so that we can bring about an era of politics that puts "people's lives first" and protect the livelihoods of the people. If we are unable to change Japan through this election then Japan and Japanese regional society will collapse and people's future employment and livelihoods cannot be guaranteed. Please support the DPJ's fight".