Japan plans to dissolve parliament with possible snap election in February: NHK

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to dissolve the country’s Lower House later this month and possibly hold early elections in February. public broadcaster NHK.

This report comes as from Japanese media over the weekend He said the LDP was trying to take advantage of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s high approval ratings to stabilize the ruling coalition.

NHK said Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has instructed the electoral boards in each prefecture to prepare for possible general elections.

Takaichi’s approval ratings are at a historic 75%. According to Nikkei surveyThis marks the third straight month of ratings above 70%.

The high ratings come as Tokyo is embroiled in a diplomatic row with Beijing in November over Takaichi’s comments that China’s military action against Taiwan would likely trigger an intervention by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

If held in February, the early election would be held about four months before the end of Takaichi’s term as prime minister and would be the LDP’s first election to be held together with its junior coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party.

Reuters reported on Monday JIP leader Hirofumi Yoshimura had met with Takaichi and said that the prime minister’s view on election timing had shifted to a “new phase”, without providing further details.

LDP and JIP Have 230 seats in the Lower House and three independent members participateThe ruling coalition now has a slim majority in the 465-seat parliament.

But the coalition is in the minority in Japan’s Upper House, holding only 119 of 250 seats.

Separately, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda said: Overthrow the ruling coalition While raising expectations for an alliance with the LDP’s former coalition partner, Komeito, he said in an interview with NHK.

CDP, Japan’s largest opposition party, has 148 seats in the Lower House, while Komeito has 24 seats.

Komeito withdrew from the ruling coalition “illegal political financing practices” Takaichi left the LDP in October 2025 while running for prime minister, ending the partnership that had been in place since 1999.

Since Takaichi took office, he has had to struggle with a weakening yen, above-target inflation and a weak economy.

yen It is currently at its weakest level against the dollar in a year, falling as low as 158.19 against the dollar on Monday. Inflation in Japan has been above the Bank of Japan’s target for the 44th consecutive month.

of japan revised GDP figures It showed that the economy contracted more than initially estimated in the third quarter, shrinking by 0.6% on a quarterly basis and 2.3% on an annual basis.