Prime Minister Takaichi Eyes Snap Election to Stabilize Ruling Bloc

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly considering dissolving the Lower House for a snap election early next month to strengthen her fragile ruling coalition, Japan Times reported.

Discussions to dissolve the Lower House have reportedly “surfaced” within the administration. (Photo: Prime Minister's Office of Japan X)

Unidentified government sources told media outlets that Takaichi is weighing either a Jan. 27 announcement with a Feb. 8 election or a Feb. 3 announcement with a Feb. 15 poll.

A regular parliamentary session is set to begin on Jan. 23.

The move would allow Takaichi to leverage her Cabinet’s approval rating of around 70% to give the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, a fresh majority in the Lower House.

The reports were corroborated by Mainichi Shimbun, which said that discussions to dissolve the Lower House have “surfaced” within the administration.