January 19, 2026, 12:39 p.mJanuary 19, 2026, 12:39 p.m
Japan’s national conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced early elections.
For this purpose this will be Lower House dissolved at the start of this year’s parliamentary session on January 23rdannounced the head of government, who has only been in office for three months, as expected. The election will take place on February 8th. The 64-year-old wants to take advantage of her unusually high approval ratingsto expand the coalition’s razor-thin parliamentary majority between its Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the conservative-neoliberal Ishin Party.
The stock market had risen to record highs in anticipation of the new election, as a larger government majority would make it easier for Takaichi to push through its growth plans through higher government spending. Political stability is needed for reformssaid Takaichi. She was only elected as her country’s first female prime minister at the end of October. The decision to call for early elections is not without risk. So it remains to be seen whether Takaichi’s great popularity in the election campaign will rub off on her LDP party.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Image: keystone
Opposition regroups
The party, which has been in power almost continuously since 1955, recently lost its majorities in both chambers of parliament due to scandals. In addition, the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan of former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, and the Komeito party announced their merger. The new Centrist Reform Party sees itself as a liberal alternative to Takaichi’s conservative coalition.
The Komeito was a coalition partner of the LDP for 26 years, but broke up with the coalition in October because of Takaichi’s tough stance on party financing and security policy. Until then, the LDP had always benefited from the coalition with Komeito through electoral agreements. (rbu/sda/dpa)