Takaichi to Initiate Snap Poll in Japan for Increased Support

Post by : Mina Rahman

Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s Prime Minister, is anticipated to call a snap election just three months into her tenure in a bid to solidify her party’s influence in the lower house. Officials have hinted that the announcement regarding the election date will be made during a press briefing on Monday afternoon. The election will determine all 465 members of Japan’s House of Representatives, which is the more influential lower house.

Since taking office last October, Takaichi and her administration have garnered impressive approval ratings, with polls reflecting support ranging from 60% to 80%. Her party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), currently occupies 199 seats in the House of Representatives, including three from independent allies, positioning it as the largest party. The coalition with the Japan Innovation Party holds just enough seats to maintain a majority.

Often referred to as Japan’s “Iron Lady” and a protégée of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi is the country’s first female premier. She has expressed admiration for Margaret Thatcher and advocates firm conservative stances. Her government recently sanctioned a historic defense budget of nine trillion yen (approximately $57 billion), underscoring apprehensions related to China’s growing military assertiveness, recognized by Tokyo as its "greatest strategic challenge."

Last November, Takaichi's remarks regarding Japan potentially enhancing its self-defense capacities in reaction to a Chinese incursion into Taiwan triggered substantial diplomatic tensions with Beijing, driving bilateral relations to their lowest ebb in over a decade.

At the same time, Takaichi has worked to strengthen ties with the United States. During an October visit from former US President Donald Trump, both leaders commended the US-Japan alliance and finalized agreements on rare earth elements and mutual cooperation, heralding a "golden age" in their collaboration.

On the domestic front, Takaichi advocates for bold government spending initiatives to stimulate economic expansion, mirroring the stimulus strategies employed during the "Abenomics" period under Shinzo Abe.

Nonetheless, the decision to call a snap election entails significant risks. The LDP has grappled with unstable leadership over recent years, with Takaichi being the fourth prime minister in a span of five years. Prior leaders saw their approval ratings diminish amid scandals and policy failures. For instance, her immediate predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, also sought an early election but was met with one of the party’s most dismal outcomes, losing its lower house majority.

Compounding these challenges, a new opposition party has recently materialized. Japan’s leading opposition group, the Constitutional Democratic Party, has allied with the Komeito party, once a partner of the LDP, to forge the Centrist Reform Alliance. This emerging political entity aims to present a robust challenge to the LDP in the impending election.

As Japan contends with escalating regional security issues and political shifts, Takaichi’s decision to pursue a snap election will be a critical test of both her leadership and her party’s strength during a pivotal time for the nation.