Takaichi Rolls the Dice: Japan's Snap Election to Lock in Popular Support
Japan's prime minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the Lower House on Jan. 23 and called a Feb. 8 snap election, betting that her high personal approval will boost the ruling LDP–Japan Innovation Party coalition even as a united opposition presses for change. The move gives her a direct mandate amid a thin parliamentary majority, regional tensions with China, and the possibility of a meeting with Donald Trump—issues analysts disagree on whether her popularity can translate into a broader victory.