Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced to dissolve the House of Representatives today, paving the way for an early general election. The announcement came on the opening day of the current ordinary parliamentary session.

 

Addressing a press conference, Ms Takaichi said she intends to seek a fresh mandate from voters and has staked her continuation as Prime Minister. The proposed election will be the first since Ms Takaichi assumed office as Japan’s first woman Prime Minister in October last year.

 

According to senior leaders of the ruling parties, polling will be expected on the 8th of next month, with the official election campaign beginning on the 27th of this month. Ms Takaichi’s administration has faced difficulties in managing Parliament, as the LDP-led bloc holds only a narrow majority in the lower house and lacks a majority in the House of Councillors, the upper house in the Diet, making cooperation with opposition parties necessary to pass legislation. Meanwhile, opposition parties have criticised Takaichi’s decision to call an early election.