TOKYO — In a historic vote on Saturday, Japan’s governing party elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, positioning her to potentially become the country's first female prime minister. Takaichi triumphed over Shinjiro Koizumi with a decisive score of 185 to 156 in a second-round runoff, securing her role as the head of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has held power in Japan for nearly uninterrupted decades since the conclusion of World War II.
The recent leadership race was prompted by the announcement from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who revealed he would be stepping down after just one year in office. While Takaichi is poised to take over as prime minister of Japan, the world's fourth-largest economy, this transition is not without uncertainties. The LDP-led coalition has faced challenges, having lost its majority in both houses of parliament over the past year.
In her victory speech, Takaichi expressed a sense of responsibility rather than elation, stating, “Right now, rather than feeling happy, I truly believe this is where the real challenge begins.” She emphasized the need for the LDP to rejuvenate itself, aiming to transform the party into “a more spirited and vibrant party, a party that transforms people’s anxieties into hope.”
At 64 years old, Takaichi is known for her hard-line conservative stance and cites former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as her political inspiration. She is also recognized as a close ally of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving leader. While many members of the LDP view Takaichi’s ascension as a potential return to Abe's policies, there are concerns regarding her nationalistic historical perspectives, which may strain Japan's relationships with neighboring countries like China and South Korea.
One of the immediate challenges for Japan’s next prime minister will be the implementation of a significant trade deal established with the Trump administration in July. This agreement imposes a 15% tariff on Japanese goods, particularly impacting crucial auto exports. As of now, the agreement remains unwritten, with many details yet to be determined. Takaichi has suggested the possibility of reopening negotiations on this deal, which includes a commitment from Japan to invest $550 billion in the U.S.
The LDP's voting process involved five leadership candidates in the first round, where Takaichi garnered 183 votes compared to Koizumi’s 164. Yoshimasa Hayashi, the government’s chief spokesperson, finished third with 134 votes following a recent surge in polling. Votes in the first round were cast evenly between 294 LDP lawmakers and nearly 1 million rank-and-file party members, represented by 295 votes. Notably, lawmakers leaned towards the more moderate Koizumi, while rank-and-file members showed strong support for Takaichi, who enjoys a passionate following.
In the second round, lawmakers had an equal number of votes as in the first, while the rank-and-file members possessed 47 votes, representing Japan's 47 prefectures. Ultimately, lawmakers voted 149 to 145 in favor of Takaichi, while party members granted her 36 votes compared to Koizumi’s 11.
Shinjiro Koizumi, currently serving as Japan's agriculture minister and the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, would have made history as the youngest leader since Hirobumi Ito, who was just marginally younger when he became Japan's first prime minister in 1885.
Reporting contributed by Arata Yamamoto from Tokyo and Jennifer Jett from Hong Kong.
