Japan’s ruling governing party on Saturday elected former Economic Security Minister, Sanae Takaichi, as its new leader, making her the most likely candidate to become the country’s first female prime minister.
Takaichi, 64, beat Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, by a vote of 185 to 156 in a run-off in an intraparty vote by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The run-off was held after none of the five candidates, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi and former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, garnered a majority in the first round of voting.
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“Rather than being happy, I feel like the tough work starts here,” Takaichi said in a speech to her fellow LDP lawmakers after her victory.
“All of us together have a ton of work to do. We have a lot of policies to execute, and speedily.”
She shook hands with her predecessor, Ishiba, before sitting down while the former PM stood up to speak.
Takaichi’s plan of governance represents a sharp turn from Japan’s customary cautionary stance over deficits. She has pledged funding for government-led initiatives in areas such as AI, semiconductors and battery technology.
Additionally, she has also promised tax credits to encourage take-home pay, deductions for household services and corporate breaks for firms that provide in-house childcare.
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