Japan’s ruling party has elected Sanae Takaichi as new leader, and she’s likely to become country’s first female prime minister

The party in Japan in Japan elected the former Minister of Economic Security Sanae Takaichi, an ultra-conservative and Chinese of the hard line, as a new leader, which makes her likely the first woman Prime Minister of the country.

In a country that ranks badly on an international level for gender equality, Takaichi, 64, makes history as the first woman leader of the Liberal Democratic Party for a long time in Japan. Takaichi is one of the most conservative members of the party dominated by men.

Admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi is a protégé of the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Ultra-conservative and accustomed vision of the Yasukuni sanctuary, considered as a symbol of Japan’s warning militarism, which could complicate Tokyo’s relations with its Asian neighbors.

Takaichi defeated the Minister of Agriculture Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former People’s Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, during a runoff during a vote by the LDP on Saturday.

Takaichi replaces the Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Because the party hopes to resume public support and stay in power after major electoral losses.

It is probably the next Prime Minister of Japan because the party remains by far the largest in the lower chamber, which determines the national leader and because the opposition groups are very fragmented.

Takaichi hopes to strengthen the American-Japan alliance

Takaichi later said that she would immediately work on the price increase, while focusing on diplomatic and security challenges.

A parliamentary vote is expected in mid-October. The LDP, which was criticized by the opposition leaders for having created an prolonged political vacuum, said that Takaichi had to hurry because the winner will soon face a diplomatic test: a possible summit with American president Donald Trump, who could demand that Japan increase his defense expenses.

A meeting would be scheduled for the end of October. Trump will go to the top of economic cooperation in Asia-Pacific in South Korea from October 31.

Takaichi said that the Japanese-American alliance guarantee is its main diplomatic priority.

“It is essential to … confirm the strengthening of the Japanese-American alliance,” she said. Takaichi highlighted the importance of their cooperation through three executives who also include regional partners such as South Korea, Australia and the Philippines, promising a larger role in Japan in the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

She said that she respects all prices and investment agreements concluded between Tokyo and Washington under the government of Ishiba.

Takaichi tackles domestic challenges

The LDP, whose losses following parliamentary elections in the past year have left it in the minority in both chambers, needs its new chef to bring the confidence and stability of voters and take up the challenges in Japan and outside Japan. Takaichi will also need cooperation of the main opposition groups to implement the policies of his party.

Ishiba, who has concluded a 15% tariff agreement with Washington and put the bonds of Japan with South Korea and other Asian countries on the right track during its passage of one year, said: “I hope that the LDP will regain under the new president (party) Takaichi to serve for the country and the people, as well as the world and the new era.”

Ishiba, a centrist known as Abe Archival, was practically forced to resign by ultra-conservative wings of the party.

5 candidates for work

Five candidates, two currently in service and three former ministers, have competed for the chairmanship of the LDP.

Saturday’s vote included only 295 LDP parliamentarians and around 1 million members of the subscription. It only reflected 1% of the Japanese public.

The choice of Takaichi LDP, instead of the more centrist Koizumi in Liberal, apparently underlines the hope of the party to reconquer conservative voters who supported emerging far -right groups such as Sanseeito during the legislative elections in July.

But the LDP also needs the help of the opposition, which it has long neglected. The party will probably seek to extend its current coalition with the moderate centrist Komeito with at least one of the main opposition parties, which are more centrist.

Takaichi supports budgetary expenses for growth

Takaichi, like other candidates, has qualified as “moderate conservative” during the magnitude of the elections to show their will to work with the opposition and remained away from emphasizing his opposition to liberal social problems or anti-china policies.

Takaichi said on Saturday that Yasukuni’s question should not be a diplomatic question and that she would think about how she can “pay tribute to war and pray for peace”.

It supports larger budgetary expenses for growth, a stronger soldier and cybersecurity, as well as more stringent regulations on the increase in tourists and foreign workers. She was criticized for having invoked unconfirmed reports to Slam Forers for kicking Nara, her hometown, and saying that many delinquents of foreign law escaped the acts of accusation due to a shortage of translators.

Experts say that candidates have avoided discussing their usual political opinions on historical issues, homosexual marriage and other disputed subjects, including the party’s political fund scandal, which was the main reason for their electoral losses and anti-corruption measures. Their avoidance of these subjects raised doubts about the party’s ability to regain public confidence, analysts said.