Sanae Takaichi. File | Photo Credit: Reuters
Ms. Takaichi replaces Shigeru Ishiba, ending a three-month political vacuum and wrangling for the reason that Liberal Democratic Party’s disastrous election loss in July.
Mr. Ishiba, who lasted just one yr as Prime Minister, resigned along with his Cabinet earlier within the day, paving the way in which for his successor.
Ms. Takaichi received 237 votes — 4 greater than a majority — in comparison with 149 received by Yoshikoko Noda, head of the most important opposition social gathering, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, within the decrease home, which elects the Prime Minister. As the outcomes had been introduced, Ms. Takaichi stood up and bowed deeply.
The LDP’s alliance with the Osaka-based rightwing Japan Innovation Party, or Ishin no Kai, ensured her premiership as a result of the opposition isn’t united. Ms. Takaichi’s untested alliance continues to be in need of a majority in each homes of parliament and might want to courtroom different opposition teams to go any laws — a danger that would make her authorities unstable and short-lived.
“Political stability is crucial proper now,” Ms. Takaichi stated at Monday’s (October 20, 2025) signing ceremony with the JIP chief and Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura. “Without stability, we can’t push measures for a powerful economic system or diplomacy.” The two events signed a coalition settlement on insurance policies underscoring Ms. Takaichi’s hawkish and nationalistic views.
Their last-minute deal got here after the Liberal Democrats misplaced its longtime accomplice, the Buddhist-backed Komeito, which has a extra dovish and centrist stance. The breakup threatened a change of energy for the LDP, which has ruled Japan virtually uninterrupted for many years.
Later within the day, Ms. Takaichi, 64, will current a Cabinet with various allies of LDP’s strongest kingmaker, Taro Aso, and others who backed her within the social gathering management vote.
JIP won’t maintain ministerial posts in Ms. Takaichi’s Cabinet till his social gathering is assured about its partnership with the LDP, Yoshimura stated.
Ms. Takaichi is operating on deadline, as she prepares for a serious coverage speech later this week, talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and regional summits. She must rapidly sort out rising costs and compile economy-boosting measures by late December to deal with public frustration.
While she is the primary lady serving as Japan’s Prime Minister, she is in no rush to advertise gender equality or variety.
Ms. Takaichi is amongst Japanese politicians who’ve stonewalled measures for girls’s development. Ms. Takaichi helps the imperial household’s male-only succession and opposes same-sex marriage and permitting separate surnames for married {couples}.
A protege of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Ms. Takaichi is predicted to emulate his insurance policies together with a stronger navy and economic system, in addition to revising Japan’s pacifist structure. With her doubtlessly weak grip on energy, it’s unknown how a lot Ms. Takaichi will have the ability to obtain.
Also an admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Ms. Takaichi was first elected to parliament in 1993 and has served in various senior social gathering and authorities posts, together with as ministers of financial safety and inner affairs, however her diplomatic background is skinny.
When Komeito left the governing coalition, it cited the LDP’s lax response to slush fund scandals that led to their consecutive election defeats.
The centrist social gathering additionally raised concern about Ms. Takaichi’s revisionist view of Japan’s wartime previous and her common prayers at Yasukuni Shrine regardless of protests from Beijing and Seoul that see the visits as lack of regret about Japanese aggression, in addition to her latest xenophobic remarks.
Ms. Takaichi has toned down her hawkish rhetoric. On Friday (October 17, 2025), she despatched a spiritual decoration as an alternative of going to Yasukuni.
Published – October 21, 2025 07:09 am IST
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