Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi as its new leader. This decision positions the 64-year-old to become the country's first female prime minister in a nation that ranks poorly for gender equality .
The party vote on Saturday involved LDP parliamentarians and rank-and-file members. Takaichi defeated Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff . She replaces Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who stepped down after the party suffered major election losses .
Takaichi is likely to be confirmed as prime minister because the LDP remains the largest party in the lower house of parliament. Opposition groups are highly splintered, making her appointment the expected outcome . A parliamentary vote is expected in mid-October .
After her victory, Takaichi spoke of the challenges ahead. She said she was overwhelmed by the "mountain of challenges" she must now tackle . She pledged to work on stemming rising prices and focusing on diplomatic and security issues .
Takaichi’s election is a historic event for the long-governing conservative party. She is its first female leader . She is also one of the most conservative members of the male-dominated LDP . Her political rise reflects the party's hope to win back conservative voters .
An admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi is a protégé of the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe . She supports his economic vision known as Abenomics, which involves high fiscal spending and cheap borrowing . She has also vowed to appoint a large share of women to her cabinet .
Her policy views are often described as hardline. She is known as a China hawk and is hawkish on security . She aims to revise Japan's pacifist constitution . She is also a regular visitor to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which is seen by neighboring countries as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism .
During the campaign, Takaichi and other candidates softened their usual political views. They called themselves "moderate conservatives" to show a willingness to work with opposition groups . They avoided discussing contentious topics like same-sex marriage and historical issues .
The new leader faces significant domestic challenges. The LDP has lost its majority in both houses of parliament after consecutive election losses . Takaichi will need cooperation from key opposition parties to implement her party's policies . She must address a sluggish economy and households struggling with inflation and stagnant wages .
On the diplomatic front, Takaichi said ensuring the Japan-U.S. alliance is her top priority . She will soon face a potential summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, who could demand Japan increase its defense spending . A meeting is reportedly being planned for late October .
Takaichi also stressed the importance of three-way cooperation with regional partners like South Korea and Australia. She pledged Japan's greater role in achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific . She said she respects all tariff and investment agreements struck with Washington under the previous government .
The party's choice of Takaichi underscores its strategy to win back conservative voters. However, some experts question her ability to unite the party and the wider public . Professor Jeff Kingston from Temple University in Tokyo said Takaichi was unlikely to have "much success at healing the internal party rift" .
Her victory breaks a significant gender barrier in Japanese politics. Women are drastically underrepresented at the highest levels of power in the country . Yet, Takaichi’s own views on women's rights are complicated. She has supported a law requiring married couples to share a surname, saying it is against tradition to do otherwise .
The new LDP leader now must guide her party and country through a period of political instability. She takes the helm of the world's fourth-largest economy amid rising regional tensions . Voters in Tokyo expressed hope that Takaichi, as the first female leader, will bring positive changes .