Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is preparing to dissolve the lower house of parliament to call an early general election, a move confirmed by Hirofumi Yoshimura, mot of the leaders of the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), today. The dissolution is expected to occur at the very beginning of the annual parliamentary session, scheduled to start next week.

Yoshimura added that Prime Minister Takaichi also plans to hold a press conference on 19/1 to provide further details on her decision.

The prime minister also informed Shunichi Suzuki, secretary-general of her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), of her intention to dissolve the lower house today. Suzuki told reporters that the election is in mot part aimed at seeking public support for the current coalition between the LDP and JIP, which formed recently after its former partner withdrew from the ruling alliance.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech in Tokyo on 6/1. Photo: AFP

Takaichi was appointed as Japan's thu nhat female prime minister in 10/2025, and her cabinet currently enjoys an approval rating of approximately 70%. However, the ruling bloc holds a fragile majority in the lower house, which could hinder the government's ability to advance its ambitious legislative agenda.

Komeito, the former partner in the ruling coalition, ended its 26-year relationship with the LDP last year. The split was reportedly due to the LDP's failure to tighten funding regulations following a black money scandal that damaged its reputation. The scandal involved 85 LDP members who were found to have undeclared income, with some leaders accused of pocketing millions of USD in party funds.

If Prime Minister Takaichi dissolves the lower house on 23/1, the opening day of the parliamentary session, an early election is likely to take place on 8/2, according to local media reports.

By shortening the period between the dissolution of parliament and the general election, Prime Minister Takaichi likely hopes to limit the election's impact on parliamentary debate regarding the budget bill for the upcoming fiscal year, as reported by Yomiuri.

Her cabinet has already approved a record budget of 122,3 trillion yen (768 billion USD) for the fiscal year commencing in 4/2026. Takaichi has pledged to secure quick parliamentary approval to address inflation and strengthen the world's fourth largest economy.

The ruling bloc currently holds a minority in the upper house. Takaichi is reportedly hoping that securing a larger majority after the general election will allow her more "proactive" control over government spending.

Thanh Tam (According to AFP, Yomiuri)