Overview
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is set to formally notify Liberal Democratic Party leaders of her intention to dissolve the House on January 23, according to ruling-camp sources.
- The ruling side is weighing two rapid election timetables under discussion: a January 27 announcement with February 8 voting or a February 3 announcement with February 15 voting.
- The Constitutional Democratic Party has floated a new political vehicle to run a unified proportional list and has already approached Komeito, with outreach also envisioned to the Democratic Party for the People.
- CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda met Komeito chief Tetsuo Saito and affirmed “higher-level” cooperation, and CDP headquarters instructed local chapters to seek meetings with Komeito officials and Soka Gakkai.
- Saito said Komeito will decide this week how to handle four single-seat incumbents, while some LDP figures question the prime minister’s tightly held decision process and editorials warn of likely budget delays.