Japan’s PM Calls Snap Election After Three Months, Gambling on High Popularity

Sanae Takaichi dissolves parliament, delaying budget amid economic pressures, while navigating tensions with China and U.S. defense demands.

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house of parliament on Friday, setting the stage for a snap election on February 8 in a high-stakes political gamble just three months after taking office.

The move aims to capitalize on Takaichi’s strong personal approval ratings—around 70% since she became Japan’s first female prime minister in October—to help her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) regain a stable majority. The LDP and its coalition partner have held only a slim majority in the powerful lower house since significant losses in the 2024 election.

In a Monday news conference, Takaichi framed the decision as a direct appeal to voters. “I believe that the only option is for the people, as sovereign citizens, to decide whether Sanae Takaichi should be prime minister,” she said. “I’m staking my career as prime minister on it.”

The election will delay parliamentary approval of a crucial budget designed to boost Japan’s struggling economy and tackle soaring prices, a point of sharp criticism from opposition leaders.

Takaichi, a hard-line conservative, has sought to distinguish herself from her centrist predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, by advocating for increased military spending, stricter immigration policies, and bold fiscal measures. However, she faces significant challenges: the LDP remains burdened by a political funds scandal, and many of its traditional voters have shifted support to emerging far-right populist parties like Sanseito.

Her short tenure has also been marked by rising diplomatic friction. Takaichi’s pro-Taiwan remarks have triggered animosity from China, which has responded with economic and diplomatic measures. Simultaneously, U.S. President Donald Trump has pressured Japan to increase its defense spending as Washington and Beijing vie for military superiority in the region.

The official 12-day campaign period begins Tuesday, with all 465 lower house seats up for grabs. The outcome will determine not only the strength of Takaichi’s mandate but also Japan’s policy direction amid economic uncertainty and escalating regional tensions.