US EditionJapan’s conservative leader bets big on Takaichi mania with snap election. Will her gamble pay off?
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aims to secure a supermajority with strong youth support and nearly double her party's approval, enabling major defense and economic reforms.
- On Sunday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called snap lower‑house elections, leveraging her high approval ratings to secure a stronger mandate.
- Seeking a clearer mandate, Takaichi aims to push rightward policies including tougher immigration rules, expanded military powers and constitutional revision, and said last month she would resign if the coalition fails to win a majority.
- Latest polls show the Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition could win as many as 300 seats in the 465-seat lower house, while opposition fragmentation and Komeito's Soka Gakkai turnout may hinder the LDP.
- If victorious by a wide margin, Takaichi could claim a 'full mandate' for bold policies, but the LDP coalition lacks an upper house majority and faces U.S. President Donald Trump's defense spending pressure.
- Domestic scandals, party ties to the Unification Church, and a Trump endorsement, including a March 19 White House invitation, add uncertainty ahead of Sunday's vote, amid China’s reprisals and record snowfall.
40 Articles
40 Articles
Japan Politics: What's behind Sanae Takaichi's 16-day snap election?
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has abruptly dissolved the House of Representatives, triggering a snap election with a campaign period of just 16 days. The move has drawn widespread attention, with critics questioning its timing amid ongoing economic pressures. Our reporter Cao Bing takes a closer look at what is behind Takaichi's decision, and the broader economic and diplomatic challenges shaping this high-stakes vote.
Japan is set to vote in snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, a move Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has called to seek a broader mandate to revive the economy and overhaul the country's defense strategy that could transform Japan into a military superpower. The outcome is likely to be determined by young people who see the working-class nationalist as a source of style and inspiration.
Takaichi counts on her popularity to help her party win Sunday's election
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is leveraging her popularity to help her party win Sunday's snap election as she pushes her right-wing agenda to boost her country's economy and military capabilities in the face of growing tensions with China and an unpredictable Washington. The ultraconservative Takaichi, who took office as Japan’s…
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