Japan elects Sanae Takaichi as ruling party leader, poised to become first female PM | World News
Former Economic Security Miner Sanae Takaichi, center, stands as Takaichi was chosen to a new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party during the party’s leadership election in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Kyodo News via AP)
Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Saturday elected former Economic Security Miner Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, making her likely to become the country’s first female prime miner, reported AP. She defeated Agriculture Miner Shinjiro Koizumi, son of former Prime Miner 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 AP.
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Who is Sanae Takaichi?
Takaichi, 64, is a hardline ultra-conservative advocating policies including aggressive economic stimulus under former Prime Miner Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics,” regular visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, and a potential revision of Japan’s pacif 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 miner 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.
