According to Japan's public broadcaster NHK, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) plans to dissolve the House of Representatives later this month and is leaning towards holding a snap election in February. Earlier reports over the weekend from Japanese media suggested the LDP intends to capitalize on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's high approval ratings to solidify the ruling coalition's position. NHK noted that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has instructed prefectural electoral committees to make preparations for a potential general election. A public opinion poll shows Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's approval rating has soared to 75%, a record high, marking the third consecutive month it has remained stable above 70%. If the snap election is held in February, it would come just about four months after Sanae Takaichi took office as Prime Minister, and it would also be the first time the LDP campaigns jointly with its junior coalition partner, Nippon Ishin no Kai. Nippon Ishin no Kai leader Yoshifumi Yoshimura has met with Sanae Takaichi, stating the Prime Minister's considerations regarding the election timing have entered a "new phase," but he did not disclose further details. The LDP and Nippon Ishin no Kai currently hold a combined 230 seats in the House of Representatives, with an additional three independent lawmakers joining the ruling coalition, giving the alliance only a slim majority in the 465-seat chamber. However, the ruling coalition is in the minority in the House of Councillors, holding just 119 seats out of 250. Opposition Parties Vow to Push for Change of Government On the other hand, Yoshihiko Noda, leader of Japan's largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), pledged in an interview with NHK to work towards ousting the ruling coalition, while also signaling a potential alliance with the LDP's former coalition partner, Komeito. The Constitutional Democratic Party currently holds 148 seats in the House of Representatives, while Komeito controls 24 seats. During Sanae Takaichi's campaign for Prime Minister in October 2025, Komeito announced its withdrawal from the ruling coalition due to "illegal political funding activities" within the LDP, ending a partnership that had lasted since 1999. Since taking office, Sanae Takaichi has had to grapple with multiple challenges, including a weak yen, high inflation, and a sluggish economy. The yen has fallen to its lowest level against the US dollar in a year, touching a low of 158.19 yen per dollar on Monday. Japan's inflation rate has now exceeded the Bank of Japan's target for the 44th consecutive month. Revised GDP data for the third quarter showed the Japanese economy contracted more than initially estimated, shrinking by 0.6% quarter-on-quarter, which translates to an annualized decline of 2.3%.
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