Takaichi’s Election Bet Faces Risk as Opposition Forms New Party

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s bid to widen her majority through a snap election faces greater risk after Japan’s largest opposition party and a former ruling coalition partner agreed to form a new party.

The new partnership between the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito announced Thursday complicates Takaichi’s bet that she’ll be able to significantly build on her razor-thin majority in the lower house of parliament. Takaichi is expected to dissolve parliament on Jan. 23, kicking off what’s likely to be a roughly two-week campaign period with reports suggesting a national election on Feb. 8.