Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering calling a general election in the coming weeks to capitalize on strong public support for her government, media reports said yesterday.
Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister in October last year, and her Cabinet is enjoying an approval rating of about 70 percent.
However, her ruling bloc only has a slim majority in the powerful lower house of parliament, hindering its ability to push through her ambitious policy agenda.
Photo: Jiji Press, AFP
She is considering dissolving the lower house at the start of a parliament session on Jan. 23, the Yomiuri and the Mainichi daily newspapers reported, citing unnamed government sources.
That would mean an election would be “highly likely to be held in early to mid-February,” the Yomiuri said.
Some in Takaichi’s administration hold the “persistent view that it should move to dissolve parliament early while support ratings remain high, in order to solidify its foundation,” the Mainichi said, without citing sources.
Takaichi was initially the head of a minority government.
Her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, regained their lower-house majority in November last year after three lawmakers joined the LDP.
The ruling bloc remains a minority in the upper house.
Takaichi hopes a bigger majority would help her implement her agenda of more “proactive” fiscal spending and stronger intelligence capacities, the Yomiuri said.
It might also help Takaichi break the deadlock in a spat with China, the newspaper said.
Ties have deteriorated since Takaichi suggested last year that Japan could intervene militarily if China ever launched an attack on Taiwan.
Beijing has announced a broad ban on the export to Japan of “dual-use” goods with potential military applications, and has reportedly been choking off exports of rare earth products crucial for making everything from electric cars to missiles.
Last month, Takaichi said she was “always open” to dialogue with China.
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