Tokyo, Jan. 14, 2026 (Xinhua/NAN) Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, is expected to give more details of her plans to dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election in Jan. 19.
The executives of the ruling party said this after meeting with her on Wednesday.
Hirofumi Yoshimura, Head of the Japan Innovation Party, the Coalition Partner of Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party(LDP), told reporters that Takaichi had informed senior officials of the ruling coalition parties of her intention to dissolve the lower house at the initial stage of this year’s ordinary parliamentary session and call a snap election.
If the lower house is dissolved shortly after the session opens on Jan. 23, there are two possible schedules for a snap election.
The first is the official campaign starting on Jan. 27, and the voting on Feb. 8. The second is the campaign that will begin on Feb. 3 with voting on Feb. 15.
The snap election is set to be held less than a year and a half after the previous one.
Under Japan’s Constitution, members of the lower house normally serve four-year term unless the chamber is dissolved.
Takaichi’s decision drew sustained criticism from within the LDP and from opposition parties, as many argued that an early general election could delay the passage of the fiscal 2026 budget.
This is in spite of Takaichi’s pledge to prioritise carrying out her policies, including measures to tackle rising prices. (Xinhua/NAN)
