America News Agency

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will dissolve parliament on Friday, paving the way for early elections to be held on February 8. Takaichi hopes to turn her strong support in opinion polls into a large majority in the lower house.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, Takaichi said this was an “extremely important decision” and that “Japan’s path will be determined together with the people.”

The country’s first female leader and her cabinet have enjoyed high public support since taking office last October.

However, her party is trailing in the polls, making the move risky. This will be Japan’s second general election in the past two years and will test support for plans to increase public spending at a time when the cost of living is at the top of voters’ concerns.

Elected prime minister by lawmakers on October 21, Takaichi is now seeking a mandate from the public in Japan’s more powerful House of Representatives.

Takaichi said that since taking office she has “constantly been concerned that the Takaichi cabinet has not yet been tested in an election in which the people choose the government.”

“Is Sanae Takaichi fit to be prime minister? I wanted to ask the sovereign people to decide,” she said at the press conference.