ISTANBUL

Japan's first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday announced she will dissolve the lower house of the country’s parliament for snap elections.

Addressing a news conference in Tokyo, Takaichi said the parliament will be dissolved on Friday, when lawmakers meet for a scheduled session.

She was elected last October as the 104th prime minister of the country.

The elections, originally scheduled to be held no later than October 2028, could now be held as early as Feb. 8.

A party or coalition needs at least 233 seats in the 465-member lower house of Japan’s bicameral parliament to elect a prime minister.​​​​​​​