Japanese PM Takaichi Likely To Call Early Election, Says Coalition Partner

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is likely to call an early general election, the head of her party’s coalition partner said on Sunday.

Public broadcaster NHK quoted Hirofumi Yoshimura, leader of the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, saying he had met with Takaichi on Friday and felt her view on the timing of an election had shifted to a “new stage”.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she made the decision as reported by the media,” he said while pointing out that he and Takaichi did not discuss the specific timing of any election.

A local newspaper, Yomiuri, cited government sources saying Takaichi was considering holding a snap election on February 8 or 15.

According to Reuters, Takaichi said she had just instructed her cabinet ministers

to ensure the timely execution of the supplementary budget for the fiscal year through March and parliamentary approval of next fiscal year’s budget.

“At present, I am focusing on the immediate challenge of ensuring that the public feels the benefits of our stimulus policies aimed at cushioning the blow of inflation,” she said.

However, Tetsuo Saito, head of the opposition Komeito, said a February election “would make it impossible to pass the budget by the fiscal year-end, at a time Japan’s economy faces a critical phase”.

The $783 billion spending proposal, Takaichi’s first budget as prime minister, includes her flagship spending programme. According to Reuters, if Takaichi cannot enact the budget by the end of March, her government would have to compile a stop-gap budget, which could delay execution of spending measures.

Meanwhile, the Internal Affairs Ministry issued a statement on Saturday urging regional election committees to start preparing in case of an early election.

While the ministry said the announcement was in response to media reports, Reuters quoted political analyst Shigenobu Tamura saying the statement meant the election was a “done deal”.

Yoshihiko Noda, a former prime minister and head of the largest opposition group, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said he had expected the PM to pass the budget before calling an election but she will likely dissolve parliament on January 23.