Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called a snap election for February 8, 2026, amid corruption scandals and rising tensions with China.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house of parliament on January 23, 2026, triggering a snap election on February 8, just three months after her October 2025 inauguration as Japan’s first female leader. The move, aimed at securing a stronger mandate amid her 70% approval rating, comes as her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faces declining popularity due to corruption scandals and ties to the Unification Church. The election, with a 12-day campaign, will focus on defense expansion, fiscal policy, immigration, and regional security, including Takaichi’s hardline stance on China and pro-Taiwan remarks that have sparked diplomatic tensions. While her coalition holds a slim lower house majority, opposition parties remain fragmented, weakening their ability to challenge the LDP. The decision delays passage of a key economic budget to combat inflation and stagnation, drawing criticism over its impact on urgent legislative work.