Why did Japan's new leader trigger snap elections only a week after taking office? And what happens next?

Japan's new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, has dissolved Japan's parliament and called for snap elections just over a week after taking office. Ishiba hopes to catch the opposition parties off guard and secure a stronger mandate for his policy agenda. Despite recent scandals and leadership changes, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is expected to win the election. However, Ishiba's approval rating is lower than his predecessor's, indicating some public skepticism. The main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), is attempting to project an image of reliability and stability. If the LDP-Komeito coalition loses its majority, the populist Japan Innovation Party could hold the balance of power. Ishiba's challenge is not only to win enough votes to retain government but also to fend off rivals within his own party. [Extracted from the article]