FOCUS: Japan PM's power to dissolve lower house stirs debate ahead of election

TOKYO - Debate over the prime minister's "exclusive prerogative" to dissolve the House of Representatives is gaining momentum in Japan following the current premier Sanae Takaichi's recent use of that authority, prompting some opposition lawmakers to say the power should be limited.

The resulting upcoming general election on Feb. 8, coming less than 16 months after the previous one in October 2024, has led opposition parties like the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance to propose restricting that power, challenging the long-standing assumption in Japanese politics that it is up to the prime minister to decide whether -- and when -- to dissolve the powerful lower house.