Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi plans to dissolve Parliament and call early election to strengthen coalition

Fox News - WorldCenter-RightEN 3 min read 100% complete by Greg WehnerJanuary 15, 2026 at 01:56 AM

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to dissolve Parliament's lower house as early as January 23rd to call a snap election. This move aims to bolster her ruling Liberal Democratic Party's position and secure stronger support for her agenda, which includes increased defense spending and constitutional revisions. Takaichi's party currently holds a slim majority after losses in the 2024 election, and she hopes to capitalize on her high approval ratings, around 70%, to gain seats. The timing could allow for an election as early as February 8th. Opposition lawmakers have criticized the plan, arguing that it will delay important budget debates. Takaichi is expected to outline her strategy at a news conference on Monday.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Donald Trump ×235% Associated Press 40% Taiwan 40% China ×260% Shunichi Suzuki ×260% Parliament ×380% Liberal Democratic Party ×385% Japan ×590% Sanae Takaichi ×895%

Keywords

takaichi 100% snap election 90% parliament dissolution 80% political agenda 70% coalition government 60% approval ratings 60% economic priorities 50% security priorities 50% national budget 40%