Overview
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi formally told ruling and allied party leaders she will dissolve the lower house early in the ordinary Diet session, with details to be announced at a Jan. 19 press conference.
- Election timetables under consideration include a Jan. 27 public notice with Feb. 8 voting or a Feb. 3 public notice with Feb. 15 voting.
- LDP Secretary-General Shun'ichi Suzuki set the ruling coalition’s win-line at securing a majority in the Diet.
- The Constitutional Democratic Party and Komeito entered final-stage talks on forming a new party or tightly coordinating for the election, with party procedures under way and a possible leaders’ meeting to seal an agreement.
- U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iranian protesters to continue and to seize public institutions and said talks with Iranian authorities are on hold until the killings stop, with Senator Lindsey Graham suggesting such support could include military, cyber and psychological operations.