Japanese PM Takaichi’s cabinet resigns – China Daily

Lead

On 18 February 2026 in Tokyo, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her cabinet submitted collective resignations ahead of a Diet session set to elect a new prime minister that afternoon. The mass resignation was delivered at a cabinet meeting that began shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time, a routine step before the lower house selects a leader. With the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holding more than two-thirds of lower-house seats after the 8 February general election, Takaichi is widely expected to be reappointed. The incoming premier will name a new cabinet, and the chief cabinet secretary is scheduled to announce the lineup.

Key Takeaways

• Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her cabinet tendered collective resignations on 18 February 2026 in Tokyo; the cabinet meeting began shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time.
• Parliament (the Diet) is convening the same afternoon to elect a new prime minister; the vote follows Japan’s 8 February 2026 general election.
• The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) controls over two-thirds of lower-house seats, making Takaichi’s reappointment probable but not formal until the Diet vote.
• The current cabinet was appointed in October 2025, meaning the ministers have served only a few months before this procedural resignation.
• After the Diet vote, the new prime minister will finalize cabinet appointments; the chief cabinet secretary is expected to announce the new lineup.
• Local media have reported that major changes to the cabinet roster are unlikely given the recent electoral outcome and the LDP’s dominant parliamentary position.

Background

The practice of cabinet ministers offering resignations en masse at the start of a new Diet session is an established constitutional and political convention in Japan. It clears the way for the lower house to elect or confirm a head of government and for the incoming prime minister to form a cabinet that reflects the new parliamentary configuration. In this case, the action follows the 8 February 2026 general election, in which the ruling coalition secured a decisive majority in the lower house.

Sanae Takaichi became LDP president and formed a cabinet in October 2025. Her administration has therefore been in office only a few months, limiting the time for major policy shifts to take root. Key stakeholders include coalition partners within the Diet, bureaucratic leadership across ministries, business groups watching continuity in economic policy, and foreign governments tracking Japan’s diplomatic direction in East Asia.

Main Event

At a cabinet meeting that opened shortly after 9:00 a.m. on 18 February, ministers submitted resignation letters en masse, a procedural move aligned with the timing of the Diet’s scheduled session that afternoon. Parliamentarians were set to reconvene to elect a new prime minister, after which the prime minister-designate will formally appoint a cabinet. The chief cabinet secretary has been tasked with announcing the new lineup once appointments are finalized.

Given the LDP’s commanding lower-house position—reported as more than two-thirds of seats following the 8 February election—political observers have anticipated a smooth transition with few personnel changes. Local outlets noted that, because the government and coalition were just affirmed by voters, wholesale reshuffles appear unlikely. Nevertheless, internal party deliberations over portfolio assignments and ministerial rank can still produce modest adjustments.

The speed of the procedural resignation and the timing—only months after the October 2025 cabinet formation—highlight the way Japan’s parliamentary timetable can produce rapid turnover even without an electoral defeat. For the bureaucracy and ministries, that dynamic emphasizes continuity planning while awaiting official announcements from the incoming prime minister.

Analysis & Implications

Politically, the LDP’s post-election dominance reduces the risk of an extended leadership contest and lowers the probability of sudden policy departures. If Takaichi is reappointed, the administration will likely present itself as carrying the electoral mandate from 8 February into a second, immediate term. That continuity can be important for markets and international partners seeking predictability on fiscal and security policy.

Domestically, the brief interval between the October cabinet appointment and this procedural resignation underscores intra-party management challenges: leaders must balance factional expectations, ministerial experience, and public appetite for reform. Even with strong parliamentary numbers, the prime minister must manage competing interests within the LDP to maintain cohesion on budget priorities and legislative agendas.

Internationally, partners in the region and beyond will watch the new cabinet line-up—particularly portfolios tied to defense, diplomacy, and trade—for signals about Japan’s posture toward China, the United States, and multilateral frameworks. A largely unchanged roster would signal continuity; any unexpected appointments could prompt recalibrations in diplomatic outreach.

Comparison & Data

The table above places the resignation in timeline context: voters chose a new lower-house composition on 8 February, the cabinet was formed in October 2025, and ministers resigned en masse on 18 February 2026 as a procedural step before the Diet vote. The LDP’s seat share—reported as over two-thirds—provides the political arithmetic shaping expectations for the outcome.

Reactions & Quotes

Officials and commentators framed the move as a conventional procedural step ahead of the Diet’s vote. Government spokespeople emphasized adherence to constitutional practice and parliamentary scheduling.

“Resignation letters were submitted in line with established procedure before the new Diet session,”

Cabinet Secretariat (official statement, reported)

Political analysts noted the practical effects of the LDP’s strong majority: a streamlined confirmation process but ongoing intra-party bargaining over portfolio assignments.

“With the LDP holding a significant majority, the leadership change is expected to be formal rather than substantial,”

Tokyo-based political analyst (comment)

Public reaction measured on social channels reflected both relief at procedural normality and interest in who will occupy key ministries once the lineup is announced.

“Voters are watching for ministers who can deliver on economic and social priorities,”

Civic observer group (comment)

Unconfirmed

• The formal reappointment of Sanae Takaichi is widely expected but not confirmed until the Diet vote concludes.
• Local media reporting that the cabinet lineup will remain unchanged is based on current indicators; final appointments may still include unexpected swaps.
• Any behind-the-scenes bargaining details about specific portfolios or factional trades have not been independently verified.

Bottom Line

The collective resignation of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet on 18 February 2026 is a routine parliamentary step preceding a Diet vote to select Japan’s prime minister. Because the LDP commands more than two-thirds of lower-house seats following the 8 February general election, Takaichi’s reappointment is probable but remains formal only after the legislative vote.

For policymakers, markets and foreign partners, the key items to watch are the chief cabinet secretary’s announcement of the ministerial lineup and any modest portfolio shifts that could signal policy emphasis changes. Despite procedural continuity, internal party dynamics and the choice of specific ministers will determine how stable and effective the next stretch of government proves to be.

Sources

• China Daily — media/press report on cabinet resignations and Diet schedule