Tokyo: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dissolved the lower house of Japan's parliament on Friday, forcing a snap election in an apparent bid to shore up support for his scandal-plagued government so that he can pursue his policy goals.

His ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has been in power for most of the post-World War II era, may lose some seats but is likely to retain a solid majority with its coalition partner in the 480-seat lower house.

The election, expected to be held Dec. 14, follows Abe's decision this week to postpone a planned increase in the sales tax after figures released on Monday showed the economy slipped into recession. He is portraying the election as a referendum on his economic revitalization policies, known as Abenomics, and the postponement of the tax hike—from the current 8 percent to 10 percent—that had been planned for next October.

“The battle is now starting,” he said, rallying party members shortly after the dissolution. “We'll make an all-out fight in this battle so that we all can come back here to resume our responsibility to make Japan a country that shines in the center of the world.”

The snap poll has puzzled many voters as it as Abe has been prime minister for only about two years.

Abe may see it as a chance to get a fresh mandate for his rule, which began in December 2012, and clean house after recent scandals involving Cabinet members dragged down his approval ratings, experts say. Two Cabinet ministers have resigned and others have come under attack for alleged campaign finance and election law violations.

“It was certainly to prolong his life as prime minister,” said Mieko Nakabayashi, a former lawmaker who teaches at Waseda University in Tokyo