NHK: Japan plans to dissolve parliament amid possible early elections in February
Stockholm, Jan. 12 (Hibya) — According to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) plans to dissolve the lower house of parliament later this month and possibly hold early elections in February.
This follows reports in the Japanese media over the weekend suggesting that the LDP aims to capitalize on 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 election commissions in every prefecture to prepare for possible general elections.
According to a Nikkei poll, Takaichi’s approval rating has reached a historic high of 75 percent, marking the third consecutive month above 70 percent.
If early elections are called in February, it would be about four months after Takaichi took office as prime minister and would mark the first election for the LDP together with its junior coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party.
The LDP and the Japan Innovation Party hold 230 seats in the House of Representatives, and with the support of three independent members, the ruling coalition has a slim majority in the 465-seat chamber.
However, the coalition is in the minority in Japan’s upper house, holding only 119 of the 250 seats.
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