House of Representatives Dissolved

The House of Representatives was dissolved on January 23rd. One of two chambers of the Diet became empty. A general election for fulfilling 465 seats will officially be announced on January 27th and voted on February 8th. Caused by sudden decision of dissolution by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the election will ask the voters a choice between conservative leading coalition and moderate centrist opposition. Most parties uphold measures, including consumption tax cut, for supporting households that are suffering from price inflation. 

On the first day of ordinary session of the Diet on January 23, the Speaker of Lower House, Fukushiro Nukaga, read out a decree from the Emperor. “Due to Article 7 of the Constitution of Japan, I dissolve the House of Representatives,” it said. Article 7 provides that the Emperor dissolves the House of Representatives “with advice and approval of the Cabinet.” The Cabinet is led by Takaichi who has power to replace any minister. That is why prime minister is traditionally supposed to have power to dissolve the Lower House.

 

Takaichi decided to dissolve the House earlier this month. She explained the reason for her decision as asking voters’ approval for her administration established last October, which was organized with conservative Japan Innovation Party, ending 26-year partnership with Komeito. Takaichi administration led by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) takes righter position, upholding highly conservative policies such as imperial succession on male line or a spy prevention act.

 

To contend acceleration of conservative agenda, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and Komeito set up a new liberal party named Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), positioning itself at the center between the right and the left. The party built only by lawmakers in the Lower House embraces a concept of “people first,” denying nationalistic position of conservative powers.

 

Building two major blocks offers voters a choice for the conservative or liberal. Takaichi focuses on keeping simple majority by the LDP and JIP in the Lower House. It is also worth watching whether voters will choose parties with major organizations of supporters or small populist parties, including the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito, which has been advancing in recent elections.

 

As the opposition parties have been seeking, the CRA proposes permanent moratorium of consumption tax for foods. The party offers establishing a governmental fund to produce financial resource for the tax cut. To offset this populist agenda, Takaichi has promised that she would “consider” eliminating consumption tax for food limited to two years. Some other opposition parties, including Japan Communist Party and Sanseito, argues that consumption tax should be abolished.

 

The LDP appeals active and strategic investments especially on crisis management for “strong and prosperous Japan.” To adjust leftist agenda of CDPJ to unification with Komeito, the CRA included approval of 2015 security legislation by former Shinzo Abe administration and removal of “future society without nuclear power plant.” Small opposition parties do not present fresh agenda for this unexpectedly early election.

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