01/23/2026, 07:3801/23/2026, 07:38
Japan’s new head of government, Sanae Takaichi, has dissolved the lower house of parliament, clearing the way for new elections. Voters are now called upon to vote on the appointment of the powerful parliamentary chamber on February 8th. In doing so, they also indirectly elect the country’s next government.
Sanae Takaichi was elected Prime Minister in October 2025.Image: keystone
The national conservative politician Takaichi was elected as the first woman to head the government at the end of October. Now the 64-year-old wants to use her unusually high approval ratings to expand the razor-thin parliamentary majority of the coalition between her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the conservative-neoliberal Ishin Party.
However, the new election is not without risk for Takaichi. So it remains to be seen whether their great popularity in the election campaign will rub off on the LDP. The party, which had been in power almost continuously since 1955, had lost its majorities in both chambers of parliament due to scandals. She hopes to win back conservative voters who have turned to the right-wing extremist small party Sanseito. It is by no means certain that this will succeed.
Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.Image: keystone
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 off the coalition with the LDP in October because of Takaichi’s tough stance on party financing and security policy. Until then, the LDP had benefited from the coalition with Komeito through electoral agreements. (sda/dpa)
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