By Sabiu Abdullahi
Japan’s Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has announced plans to dissolve the country’s parliament on Friday and hold a snap general election, a move aimed at securing public backing for her spending agenda and wider policy programme.
The announcement, made on Monday, comes barely three months after Takaichi assumed office as Japan’s first female prime minister. The planned election will determine all 465 seats in the lower house of parliament and will represent her first nationwide electoral test since taking office.
“Today, I, as the Prime Minister, have decided to dissolve the lower house on January 23,” Takaichi said at a news conference.
Political observers say an early vote could help the prime minister take advantage of her current popularity. It could also strengthen her position within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and stabilise her coalition, which holds a narrow majority in parliament.
The coming election is expected to focus heavily on economic concerns, especially rising living costs. Many voters have expressed anxiety about inflation and household expenses. A recent opinion poll released by public broadcaster NHK indicated that 45 per cent of respondents identified prices as their biggest concern.
Diplomacy and national security followed, with 16 per cent.If confirmed, the snap election will set the stage for a major political contest that will shape Japan’s economic direction and test public confidence in Takaichi’s leadership at an early stage of her tenure.