Japanese politics witnessed a major upheaval on Friday, January 23rd. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi decided to dissolve Parliament, just three months after assuming office. With this, the country has announced mid-term elections on February 8th, 2026.

The formal announcement of the dissolution of Parliament was made by Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker of the Japanese Parliament. He read out the official letter dissolving the lower house in the chamber.

Why was the decision to dissolve Parliament taken?

Political analysts believe that Prime Minister Takaichi took this step to capitalize on his popularity. Since becoming Prime Minister in October, his popularity has been reported to be around 70 percent.

His party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), wants to regain the political base it has lost over the past few years. This election decision was made as part of this strategy.

Dissolution of the 465-member Parliament, 12-day election campaign

The lower house has a total of 465 MPs. With the dissolution of Parliament, Japan will now embark on a 12-day election campaign.

It is noteworthy that the ruling coalition—the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP)—suffered losses in the 2024 elections. Currently, the coalition holds a narrow majority in the lower house, while lacking a majority in the upper house.

Opposition Protests

Opposition parties have reacted sharply to the Prime Minister's move. They say that dissolving Parliament is not a good step for democratic stability and that the decision was taken solely for political gain.

China-Taiwan Tensions and US Pressure Also Important Reasons

This development comes at a time of rising tensions between Japan and China. Recently, Sanae Takaichi hinted that Japan could join in if China takes military action against Taiwan. Furthermore, US President Donald Trump's pressure on Japan to purchase more weapons is also influencing Japanese politics.

Who is Sanae Takaichi?

Sanae Takaichi was born in Nara Prefecture in 1961. Her political journey began in the United States in the 1980s, where she worked in the Washington office of US Congresswoman Patricia Schroder. While in the US, she realized that the global perspective on Japan's security and identity was weak. This thought inspired her to pursue a career in politics.

Extensive Political Experience

In 1992, she first contested elections as an independent candidate, although she lost. She subsequently won in 1993 and joined the LDP in 1996. To date, she has served ten times as a Member of Parliament, holding key portfolios such as Internal Affairs, Economic Security, and Trade and Industry. Inspired by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi led the LDP to the position of Prime Minister on her third attempt.