Sanae Takaichi poised toโค Become Japan‘s Next Prime Minister
TOKYO – Sanae Takaichi is widely expected toโฃ become Japan’s next primeโ minister following โคa leadership election within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).the LDP, despite recent electoral โฃsetbacks leaving it in the minority in both houses of parliament, remains the largest party in the lower house, which holds the power to โขdetermine the national leader, and benefitsโข from a fragmented opposition.
the LDP seeks a leader capable of swiftly addressing domestic andโข international challenges and forging cooperation with opposition groups to enact policies. Five candidates – two current ministers and three former – competed for the LDP presidency.
saturday’s vote, involving 295 LDP parliamentarians and approximately 1 million party โmembers, โฃrepresented only 1% ofโข the Japanese electorate. A parliamentary vote confirming the selection is anticipated in โmid-October.The LDP faces pressure toโ finalize its โchoice quickly, โas the new leader willโข soon confront a potential diplomatic challenge: a possible โฃsummitโ with U.S. President Donald Trump, possibly includingโฃ discussions about โincreased Japanese defense spending. A meeting is reportedly planned โคto coincide withโ Trump’s travel to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South โคKorea, beginning October 31.
The LDP is also seeking to broaden its governing coalition beyond itsโฃ currentโ partnership โขwith the komeitoโข party, aiming to include at least one of the more centrist opposition parties. All five candidates positioned themselves as “moderate conservatives” to signal opennessโข to collaboration.
Campaign platforms centered on combating rising prices,increasing salaries,strengthening defense and the economy,and implementingโข stricter policies regarding foreign workers. Candidates largely avoided contentious social issues like gender equality and sexualโ diversity, as wellโค as sensitive historical topics, same-sex marriage, and the party’sโ recent political funds scandal – a key factor in โpast election losses – and anti-corruption measures. Analysts noted this avoidance raised concerns about the party’sโข ability โto restore public trust.
earlier polling indicated Sanae Takaichi, โalong with Yoshimasa Hayashi and Shinjirล Koizumi, as front-runners. Toshimitsu Motegiโ and โคTakayuki Kobayashi were considered lessโฃ likely to win. Had he been accomplished, Koizumi woudl have been the youngest prime minister in over a century.