Sanae Takaichi has been elected as the new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), putting her in line to become the country’s first female prime minister.
The leadership election took place on Saturday after an initial round of voting failed to produce a clear winner among the five candidates.Takaichi, 64, a former economic security minister known for her conservative stance, defeated Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in a run-off vote.
Her victory marks a historic moment in Japanese politics, as no woman has ever held the nation’s highest political office.The Japanese parliament is expected to hold a vote on October 15 to formally appoint the next prime minister.
Since the LDP remains the largest party in the legislature, Takaichi is expected to succeed current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.However, the party faces new challenges as it no longer holds a majority in either the upper or lower house of parliament.
To govern effectively, the LDP-led coalition will need to seek support from opposition lawmakers to pass key policies and maintain stability in the government.