Japanese Prime Minister Sana Takeda intends to dissolve the House of Representatives as soon as the regular parliamentary session opens on January 23, paving the way for early legislative elections in the coming weeks, according to coalition government officials.
Kyodo News reported that Hirofumi Yoshimura, co-chair of the Japan Innovation Party, a partner in the coalition, stated that Takeda plans to officially announce this decision next Monday after a meeting with coalition leaders.
The same source indicated that dissolving the House of Representatives immediately after the parliamentary session begins could allow the election campaign to kick off on January 27 or February 3, with elections set for February 8 or 15.
This move comes less than a year and a half after the last legislative elections, despite the fact that the Japanese Constitution stipulates a four-year term for members of the House of Representatives unless it is dissolved before the term ends.
Since taking office last October, Takeda has maintained high approval ratings, while the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party holds only a slim majority in the House of Representatives and remains a minority in the House of Councillors, necessitating coordination with the opposition to pass legislation.
In contrast, opposition parties have criticized the prospect of early elections, arguing that this move could hinder the approval of the preliminary budget project for the 2026 fiscal year, which begins in April, despite the Prime Minister’s commitment to continue implementing her political priorities.
