Japan's first female PM dissolves parliament for snap election

Friday 23 January 2026 - 09:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Japan's first female PM dissolves parliament for snap election

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has formally dissolved the lower house of parliament, setting the stage for a snap general election on February 8. The move, announced amid cheers of "banzai" from lawmakers, initiates a brisk 12-day campaign period starting Tuesday. As the nation's inaugural female leader, Takaichi, who assumed office just three months ago in October, enjoys robust public approval ratings around 70 percent.

Elected to leverage her personal popularity, Takaichi aims to bolster her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), which currently holds a narrow majority in the 465-seat chamber. The coalition has faced erosion in support amid public frustration over economic pressures. Analysts note uncertainty over whether Takaichi's high personal ratings will translate into votes for the LDP, with inflation topping voter concerns.

Key campaign issues include combating rising consumer prices and addressing security tensions, particularly with China. Diplomatic friction escalated after Takaichi's November remarks suggesting potential Japanese involvement if China moves militarily on Taiwan, prompting Beijing's economic and diplomatic backlash. Both governing and opposition parties have proposed eliminating the consumption tax on food to alleviate household burdens.

Recent data offers a glimmer of relief: Japan's inflation rate eased to 2.4 percent year-on-year in December from 3 percent the prior month, aided by subsidies on electricity and gas, though it exceeds the central bank's 2 percent target. Rice prices, a stark emblem of cost-of-living woes, surged over 34 percent last December compared to the previous year, after nearly doubling mid-2025. The LDP's long dominance faces a challenge from the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) allied with Komeito in a new Centrist Reform Alliance targeting undecided voters, though experts predict a tight but LDP-favored contest.