Takaichi to Inform LDP Soon of Intention to Dissolve Lower House

Tokyo, Jan. 14 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering informing senior officials of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday afternoon of her intention to dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap general election, informed sources said. The all-important lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament, is likely to be dissolved at the start of the ordinary Diet session on Jan. 23, the sources said. According to LDP officials, the official campaign period for the expected general election is seen beginning Jan. 27, with the voting date likely to be set for Feb. 8. Takaichi visited the Horyuji temple in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, together with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday morning. After returning to Tokyo in the afternoon, Takaichi, also LDP president, is expected to convey her plan to dissolve the Lower House to LDP executives as well as senior officials of the party’s coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party. As another option, some in the government and the ruling bloc had considered setting the campaign start for Feb. 3 and the voting date for Feb. 15. But a senior LDP official said the snap election should be held early because the Diet needs to hold deliberations on the government’s fiscal 2026 draft budget. Another source said that the election campaign period should be shorter. If the Lower House is actually dissolved Jan. 23 and the subsequent election is set for Feb. 8, this means that the snap general election would be held 16 days after the breakup, the shortest such period since the end of World War II. Takaichi may announce next Monday her decision to dissolve the chamber, after her scheduled meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday during her visit to Japan and the 31st anniversary Saturday of the Jan. 17, 1995, powerful earthquake in the western Japan city of Kobe and surrounding areas, people familiar with the situation said. During the expected Lower House race, Takaichi will likely promote her administration’s policies, such as creating a strong economy and advancing responsible and proactive public finances. Takaichi aims to strengthen the foundations of her administration by winning the Lower House election, as the LDP-JIP ruling bloc lacks a majority in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]