Japan’s new PM Sanae Takaichi says she has no plans to dissolve parliament
NSMA NEWS – TOKYO
Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Saturday she has no plans to dissolve parliament after returning home from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea, public broadcaster NHK reported.
Speaking at a news conference in South Korea, Takaichi said her focus remains on delivering on her promises to the Japanese people, including key economic measures.
“I don’t have time to consider that at the moment,” she told reporters when asked whether she plans to dissolve the Lower House upon returning to Japan.
Takaichi, who was elected last month as Japan’s first female prime minister, succeeded Shigeru Ishiba following his resignation amid internal party criticism after consecutive election defeats.
Earlier this week, she hosted US President Donald Trump in Japan and later attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia.
On Thursday, Takaichi arrived in South Korea for the APEC summit — her first visit to the country as prime minister — where she held meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on the sidelines of the event.
