Japan PM to Dissolve Lower House       01/14 06:04

   

   TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to dissolve the 
lower house of Parliament soon to pave the way for a snap election to seek the 
public's mandate for her policies, a top party official said Wednesday.

   Takaichi was elected as Japan's first female prime minister in October. A 
snap election is seen as an attempt to capitalize her still strong approval 
ratings of around 70% to help her beleaguered governing party gain more seats.

   Shunichi Suzuki, secretary general of the governing Liberal Democratic 
Party, told reporters that Takaichi told him and other top officials her plan 
to dissolve the lower house "soon" after it convenes on Jan. 23.

   Suzuki did not give dates for a dissolution or a snap election, and said 
Takaichi will explain her plans at a news conference next Monday.

   Her scandal-tainted LDP and its coalition has a slim majority in the lower 
house, the more powerful of Japan's two-chamber Parliament.

   With an early election, Takaichi appeared to be aiming for securing a bigger 
share for the LDP and its new junior partner, the Japan Innovation Party.

   Opposition lawmakers criticized the plan as a selfish move that would delay 
parliamentary discussion on the budget, which needs to be approved as soon as 
possible.

   Media reports have said Takaichi plans to dissolve the house on Jan. 23, the 
first day of this year's ordinary session, paving the way for a snap election 
as early as Feb. 8.

   Winning an upcoming election also would help Takaichi and her governing bloc 
to pass the budget and other legislation more easily.

   In late December, her Cabinet approved a record 122.3 trillion yen ($770 
billion) budget that needs to be approved before the upcoming fiscal year 
starting April to fund measures to fight inflation, support low-income 
households and projects to help economic growth.

   Takaichi, known for her hawkish and nationalistic views and is 
ultra-conservative on social issues such as gender and sexual diversity, wants 
to win back conservative voters wooed by emerging populist parties in the past 
two major elections.

   The LDP has since handpicked a number of independents to join the governing 
coalition to reach a slim majority, but still is a minority in the upper house.