Japan's Takaichi calls Feb 8 snap election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said at a press conference on Monday evening that she plans to dissolve the 465-member House of Representatives on Friday, paving the way for a snap general election.

According to Japanese media reports, voting is expected to take place on Feb 8, with the official campaign period set to begin on Jan 27.

Under Japan's electoral system, voters will elect lawmakers from 289 single-member constituencies and 176 seats through proportional representation.

The upcoming election will be the first nationwide poll since Takaichi took office on Oct 21, even though the current term of the House of Representatives still has more than two years remaining. Under Japan's Constitution, members of the lower house serve four-year terms unless the chamber is dissolved.

At the press conference, Takaichi said she would put her post on the line and seek voters' judgment on whether she should continue to serve as prime minister.

With Japan's parliament set to open on Jan 23, the government had originally planned to prioritize passage of the fiscal 2026 budget. That goal, however, has been complicated by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) loss of a majority in both chambers, forcing the government to rely on opposition cooperation and constraining Takaichi's ability to advance her policy agenda.

Some Japanese media outlets have criticized Takaichi, arguing that her political vulnerability was underscored by remarks she made during a Diet session on Nov 7. During the session, she suggested that a "Taiwan contingency" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, implying the possibility of military involvement.

The comments was widely viewed as a statement interfering in China's internal affairs and violating the One-China principle, straining China–Japan relations and drawing sustained criticism from opposition parties. Media commentators note that if the Diet were to convene as scheduled, these issues would likely resurface during intensive questioning, making dissolution of the lower house a possible tactic to avoid concentrated political pressure.

According to Asahi Shimbun, with only 16 days between the dissolution and election day, this will be the shortest campaign period in Japan's postwar history. It will also mark the first time since 1992 that the Diet has been dissolved at the start of an ordinary session convened in January.

Last week, Takaichi informed senior members of the ruling LDP and its coalition partner of her intention to dissolve the lower house, a move widely seen as politically significant.

To challenge the conservative ruling bloc, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito—a former longtime ally of the LDP—agreed on Thursday to form a Centrist Reform Alliance. The alliance is expected to emerge as the largest opposition force in the upcoming election.

houjunjie@chinadaily.com.cn