Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has dissolved the lower house of Parliament, paving the way for a Feb. 8 snap election.
    • 9point6@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      15 days ago

      We had a bit of it in the UK over recent years. Generally it’s for two reasons.

      Firstly, and most commonly: it’s because a leader is polling particularly well compared to the previous election and it’s a gambit to go for a greater share of power

      Secondly, the situation where a new leader has succeeded the previous one without election and wants to gain legitimacy by winning an election

      • standarduser@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        5·
        15 days ago

        ah! Thank you for helping me understand.

        So is this a parliamentary only thing or are there equivalents for general assemblies or American congress?

        • 9point6@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          15 days ago

          You’ll have to wait for an American to chime in on that, I’m afraid

          I can’t remember anything similar off the top of my head, but I don’t know much in any real detail about American politics beyond recent history and some of the broad strokes before that.

    • skribe@piefed.socialEnglish
      3·
      15 days ago

      It’s common where the executive (usually the prime minister) can choose to dissolve parliament and hold an election. There are usually time limits and conditions associated with that power, but the PM will generally choose a time that is most favourable. Otherwise, they can run the risk of being forced to hold an election at an inopportune time and risk losing.