TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told a ruling Liberal Democratic Party official that she is considering dissolving the House of Representatives at the outset of the ordinary parliamentary session scheduled to begin on Jan. 23, a source familiar with the matter said Saturday.
Some lawmakers within the LDP are calling for a dissolution while public approval ratings for her Cabinet remain high at around 70 percent in media polls, with a party member saying, “We will proceed with preparations with an early dissolution in mind.”
If the lower chamber is dissolved, official campaigning for a general election may start on either Jan. 27 or Feb. 3, with voting set for Feb. 8 or Feb. 15, respectively.
Sources familiar with the matter said earlier Saturday that speculation had emerged within the government about Takaichi considering dissolving the lower house when it convenes.
The LDP and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, currently hold a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives. Losing even a single seat would drop them below the 233 seats needed for a majority in the 465-member chamber.
The ruling bloc remains a minority in the less powerful House of Councillors.
AloJapan.com