Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday that she would step down immediately if the ruling bloc fails to secure a majority in the upcoming House of Representatives election.

Speaking at a party leaders' debate on Monday, Takaichi, who also serves as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said an electoral defeat would leave her unable to continue as prime minister or advance her policy agenda. When pressed to clarify what she meant by "defeat," Takaichi said she would resign at once if the ruling alliance formed by the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party fails to win more than half of the seats in the lower house.