Japan Heads for Snap Election as Takaichi Moves to Dissolve Parliament

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Monday that she will dissolve the House of Representatives on Friday and call a snap national election for Feb. 8, seeking a public mandate for her policy agenda, including increased public spending, tax cuts and a strengthened security strategy.

Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister in October, told reporters the early election is intended to let voters decide whether they continue to support her leadership and policy direction. The upcoming vote will determine all 465 seats in the lower house of the National Diet, marking her first electoral test since taking office.

At a press conference, she framed the decision as necessary to build a stronger governing mandate, saying the public should judge whether she is fit to lead Japan. Campaigning is scheduled to begin Jan. 27 ahead of the Feb. 8 election.

Takaichi’s call for a snap poll comes amid growing public concerns over the cost of living, with rising prices cited as a key worry in recent polls, and a political landscape that includes evolving opposition alliances aiming to challenge her ruling bloc in the election.