Japan heads to the polls for early elections

In Japan, the public headed to the polls today as part of the early election decision made by Sanae Takaichi, who became the country's first female prime minister in October. Voting began at 07:00 local time at 44,642 polling stations across the country.

It was announced that 1,284 candidates are competing in the election, where the occupants of the 465 seats in the House of Representatives, the lower house of the National Diet, will be determined. It was reported that 289 of the 465 seats will be elected from single-seat constituencies, while 176 seats will be elected through a proportional representation system.

In the election, where polls will close at 20:00, parties are competing to secure the 233 seats required for an absolute majority in the assembly.

TAKAICHI HAD DECIDED ON EARLY ELECTIONS

Sanae Takaichi, who became Japan's first female prime minister in October, announced on January 19 that she had decided to call for early elections.

Reminding that she became prime minister following a leadership change in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and that she formed a new coalition government with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), Takaichi noted, "Many of the policies we will implement in this context were not among the campaign promises of the LDP in the last House of Representatives elections."

Emphasizing that she wants to receive the public's approval through early elections for this reason, Takaichi said, "I want the public to decide directly whether or not to entrust the administration of the country to me."