Japanese Prime MinisterSanae Takaichi will hold a press conference this evening (19th) to express her position on dissolving the House of Representatives at the beginning of the regular Diet session on the 23rd. Both ruling and opposition parties are rushing to prepare, with the House of Representatives election schedule expected to be "official announcement on January 27, voting and ballot counting on February 8."
Sanae Takaichi is expected to seek voters' trust during the press conference regarding the coalition governance framework and a "resilient economy," and explain the reasons for dissolving the house at this time.
According to Japanese media reports, Sanae Takaichi will meet with Yoshinobu Tsutsui, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), and others at the Prime Minister's Official Residence later this afternoon. As for Sanae Takaichi's first visit to the United States since taking office, the Japanese and U.S. governments are making adjustments centered on March 20, aiming to coordinate policies toward China triggered by the Taiwan Strait dispute before the U.S.-China summit expected in April.
Meanwhile, the "Centrist Reform Alliance," a new party formed by the Constitutional Democratic Party and Komeito, released a platform advocating "living-priority" on the morning of the 19th and announced its basic policies in the afternoon. The platform clearly states the "solid promotion of living-priority policies" and lists five policy pillars: "sustainable economic growth," "constructing a new social security model," "realizing an inclusive society," "realistic diplomatic and defense policies and deepening discussions on constitutional reform," and "continuous political and electoral system reform."
In the basic policies announced in the afternoon regarding security-related laws, adjustments will be made toward recognizing the constitutionality of exercising the right to self-defense under "survival crisis situations," and the restart of nuclear power plants will be permitted under conditions such as obtaining local consent.
On the other hand, Japanese media reported that "Osaka Ishin no Kai," a regional party of the LDP coalition partner "Nippon Ishin no Kai," held an emergency general meeting simultaneously at the Osaka headquarters and online on the evening of the 18th. （Related： Taiwan Secures 15% Tariff Cap; US Pledges Major Investment in '5 Trusted Industries' to Secure Global Supply Chain ｜ Latest ）
Hirofumi Yoshimura, Governor of Osaka and party leader, called for party unity to face the rerun of the double election. The general meeting was held in private. According to attendees, Hirofumi Yoshimura apologized for the hasty decision to enter the double election, stating, "I deeply apologize for the insufficient consultation with our members," and admitted, "I cannot even put up posters by myself," pleading for the party's full support in the election.
