Takaichi has done little to play down the possibility, telling a news conference on Monday: “It is important that the public can feel the tangible effects of our measures against rising prices and our economic policies. We are working hard to tackle the issues before us.
“Without political stability, we cannot advance strong economic policies, nor robust diplomacy and security.”
Her longer reply to a media query was in contrast to her previous assessment that she had “no time to think about” dissolving the Diet for an election when asked about the issue.
Expectations have grown with the most recent polls showing Takaichi remained popular among the Japanese people, with the left-leaning Asahi newspaper reporting on December 22 that the prime minister had a public approval rating of 68 per cent, compared with 69 per cent in November and 68 per cent in October, immediately after she assumed office.
