Politics Japan's head of government announces new elections
Japan's national conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced early elections.
19.01.2026, 13:26
SDA
To this end, the lower house will be dissolved at the beginning of this year's parliamentary session on January 23, announced the head of government, who has only been in office for three months, as expected. The election will take place on February 8. The 64-year-old wants to use her unusually high approval ratings to expand the wafer-thin parliamentary majority of the coalition between her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the conservative-neoliberal Ishin party.
The stock market had risen to new record highs in anticipation of the new election, as a larger government majority would make it easier for Takaichi to push through her growth plans through higher government spending. Takaichi said that political stability was needed for reforms. She was only elected her country's first female prime minister at the end of October. The decision to call an early election is not without risk. It remains to be seen whether Takaichi's great popularity in the election campaign will rub off on her party, the LDP.
Opposition regroups
The party, which has been in power almost continuously since 1955, recently lost its majorities in both houses of parliament due to scandals. In addition, the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan of former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, and the Komeito party announced their merger. The new centrist reform party sees itself as a liberal alternative to Takaichi's conservative coalition.
Komeito was a coalition partner of the LDP for 26 years, but broke off the coalition in October due to Takaichi's tough stance on party funding and security policy. Until then, the LDP had always benefited from the coalition with Komeito through electoral agreements.
