Sanae Takaichi Elected LDP Leader, Poised to Become Japan's First Female PM

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, paving the way for the 64-year-old conservative to become the country's first female prime minister.

Takaichi, a staunch nationalist and protégé of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, won a runoff against more moderate Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, securing 54% of the votes in the intraparty contest.

She replaces Shigeru Ishiba, whose one-year term ended amid scandals and election losses that cost the LDP its parliamentary majority.

Takaichi hailed a "new era" for the LDP in her victory speech, vowing to "work like a horse" to restore the party's fortunes.

If confirmed by parliament in mid-October, she will face daunting challenges: uniting a fractured party, tackling a sluggish economy battered by inflation and stagnant wages, and navigating a tense US-Japan alliance under the Trump administration.

She must also honor a tariff deal struck by Ishiba's government while reviving Abe's "Abenomics"—aggressive fiscal spending and loose monetary policy.

On security, Takaichi is hawkish, aiming to revise Japan's pacifist constitution and strengthening defenses amid regional threats.

A regular visitor to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine—honoring Japan's war dead, including convicted criminals—she draws inspiration from Britain's Margaret Thatcher, whom she has long admired.

However, critics, especially women voters, question her progressive credentials. Takaichi opposes allowing married women to retain maiden names, citing tradition, and same-sex marriage.

As a right-wing figure, she has tempered her rhetoric on China during the campaign to avoid alienating allies.

The LDP's weakened position—no majority in either parliamentary chamber—means Takaichi will need opposition cooperation to govern, a stark contrast to predecessors' automatic confirmations.

Her election marks a milestone for gender equality in Japan, yet underscores the party's conservative shift amid voter disillusionment.