Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Saturday elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, making her likely to become the country’s first female prime minister, reported AP. She defeated Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in a runoff vote. In the first round of voting, Takaichi led with 183 votes, while Koizumi secured 164. Because neither reached a majority, a two-way runoff was held, involving 295 LDP parliamentarians and about 1 million party members, representing just 1 per cent of the Japanese public, according to reports by AP. Who is Sanae Takaichi? Takaichi, 64, is a hardline ultra-conservative advocating policies including aggressive economic stimulus under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics,” regular visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, and a potential revision of Japan’s pacifist constitution, reported Reuters. She has also suggested closer security cooperation with Taiwan and revisiting investment agreements with the United States. “The recent harsh voices from across the country saying we don’t know what the LDP stands for drove me,” Takaichi said in a speech before the runoff, reported Reuters. “I wanted to turn people’s anxieties about their daily lives and the future into hope.” What are the next steps? A parliamentary vote to confirm the new prime minister is expected in mid-October, according to AP. The winner will face immediate diplomatic tests, including a likely meeting with US President Donald Trump at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea at the end of October, where Japan may be urged to increase defense spending.
