Japan’s Parliament will hold a vote on Feb 18 to elect the next premier, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi almost certain to win, when it convenes for the start of the 150-day special Diet session on the same day.

The schedule, approved in a Cabinet decision on Feb 13, comes as Ms Takaichi’s months-old government holds a stronger hand in the House of Representatives after her ruling Liberal Democratic Party scored a landslide in the Feb 8 lower house election.