Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved Japan’s House of Representatives on Friday for a snap general election on Feb. 8, seeking a public mandate to push through her economic and security policy agenda with her new coalition partner.
The dissolution of the lower house at the outset of the ordinary parliamentary session effectively kicked off a short campaign period for the election, with the ruling and opposition camps both floating the idea of lifting the consumption tax on food to ease the burden on inflation-hit households.
On Friday morning, Takaichi’s Cabinet approved the plan to dissolve the 465-seat chamber. While prime ministers have the authority to dissolve the lower house, it is the first dissolution at the start of a regular session in 60 years.
With lawmakers’ current terms scheduled to expire in 2028, Takaichi has justified her decision to call an election by arguing she has yet to receive public backing for her premiership that began in October and the new ruling coalition of her Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party formed the same month.
While Takaichi’s Cabinet enjoys high support ratings, the ruling bloc only holds a razor-thin majority in the lower chamber and remains a minority in the House of Councilors, forcing it to cooperate with opposition parties in passing bills.
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