Japan’s Takaichi plans to dissolve lower house to set up an early snap election

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to dissolve the lower house of Parliament soon to pave the way for a snap election to seek the public’s mandate for her policies, a top party official said Wednesday.

Takaichi was elected as Japan’s first female prime minister in October. A snap election is seen as an attempt to capitalize her still strong approval ratings of around 70% to help her beleaguered governing party gain more seats.

Shunichi Suzuki, secretary general of the governing Liberal Democratic Party...