Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi to call snap election
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The news: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to hold a snap election next month as she aims to ride a wave of high public approval ratings into a parliamentary majority.
The context: Takaichi informer senior colleagues of her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) about her intention to dissolve the lower house of parliament on or after 23 January and hold a vote in early February, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, the junior partner in Takaichi’s ruling coalition, said at a brief press conference on Wednesday.
Takaichi was appointed as Japan’s first female prime minister in October 2025 in an internal LDP vote, after Shigeru Ishiba resigned in efforts to prevent the ruling LDP from splitting.
While the LDP’s overall approval ratings are sitting at around 35% the FT reports, Takaichi’s cabinet is now enjoying an approval rating of around 70%, underscoring the personal popularity of the current leader.
During her first few months in office, Takaichi has already held a visit to Japan from US President Donald Trump and triggered a spat with China over her comments on Taiwan – from which she has not backed down.
