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Japan PM Takaichi Calls Snap Election, Dissolves Lower House for Fresh Mandate

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has dissolved the House of Representatives, calling a snap general election for February 8. She is staking her continuation as prime minister on the outcome, seeking a fresh mandate for her fiscal policy and new ruling coalition. The election is the first since she became Japan's first woman prime minister and since her Liberal Democratic Party entered a coalition with the Japan Innovation Party. Opposition parties have consolidated into a new alliance and criticized the early election as prioritizing politics over passing the budget.

Key Points: Japan PM Takaichi Dissolves House, Calls Snap Election

  • Election set for February 8
  • First poll since Takaichi became PM
  • Tests new LDP-JIP coalition
  • Opposition forms Centrist Reform Alliance
  • Narrow ruling bloc majority in parliament
2 min read

Japan PM Takaichi announces dissolution of lower house, calls snap election

Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi dissolves the lower house, calls a snap election for February 8, staking her premiership on the outcome.

"responsible yet aggressive fiscal policy approach - Sanae Takaichi"

Tokyo, January 19

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday announced her decision to dissolve the House of Representatives, the lower house in the National Diet, paving the way for a snap general election on the opening day of the current ordinary parliamentary session, Kyodo News reported.

The decision to dissolve the lower house was taken on Friday.

Addressing a press conference today, Takaichi said she intends to seek a fresh mandate from voters and has staked her continuation as prime minister on the election outcome.

According to senior leaders of the ruling parties, polling is expected on February 8, with the official election campaign beginning on January 27, as reported by Kyodo News.

The proposed election will be the first since Takaichi assumed office as Japan's first woman prime minister on October 21.

It will also be the first electoral test since her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) entered into a coalition agreement with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) a day earlier.

Takaichi is aiming to leverage her Cabinet's strong approval ratings to secure public backing for what she has described as a "responsible yet aggressive" fiscal policy approach, along with the newly formed ruling coalition framework, Kyodo News reported.

The snap poll comes less than 18 months after the previous lower house election held in October 2024.

Under Japan's Constitution, members of the House of Representatives serve four-year terms unless the chamber is dissolved earlier.

Last week, Takaichi had informed senior ruling party figures of her intention to dissolve the lower house "at an early stage" after the 150-day regular Diet session convenes next Friday, Kyodo News reported.

Her administration has faced difficulties in managing parliament, as the LDP-led bloc holds only a narrow majority in the lower house and lacks a majority in the House of Councillors, the upper house in the Diet, making cooperation with opposition parties necessary to pass legislation.

Meanwhile, opposition forces have moved to consolidate ahead of the election. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, a former long-time LDP ally, agreed on Thursday to form the Centrist Reform Alliance, which is set to become the largest opposition grouping in the contest, Kyodo News reported.

Opposition parties have criticised Takaichi's decision to call an early election, accusing her of prioritising political calculations over the passage of the fiscal 2026 initial budget, despite her stated commitment to focus on policy implementation.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The opposition has a point. Dissolving parliament before passing the budget seems like putting politics before governance. We've seen enough of that here. A leader should complete their core duties first. 🤔
A
Arjun K
Strong move by PM Takaichi! Seeking a fresh mandate when you have public support is smart strategy. The new coalition with JIP could bring fresh ideas. Japan needs stable leadership, especially with economic challenges. Wishing her the best from India! 🇯🇵🤝🇮🇳
S
Sarah B
As someone living in Tokyo, the political scene here is getting very dynamic. The formation of the Centrist Reform Alliance shows the opposition is not sitting idle. Voters will have a clear choice. The next few weeks will be crucial.
V
Vikram M
The "responsible yet aggressive" fiscal policy approach sounds promising. Japan has been battling deflation for years. Maybe this new mandate will give her the strength to push through tough reforms. India could learn from their coalition management in a hung parliament scenario.
K
Kavya N
Another election so soon? Seems like a waste of public money and time. Governments should focus on their full term and deliver rather than constantly looking for validation. Hope the Japanese people get a stable government out of this.

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