News - Sanae Takaichi becomes leader of Japan’s ruling party, paving the way for her potential to be the first female prime minister

Japan appears set to have its first female prime minister after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader. Takaichi, who previously served as Japan’s minister for Economic Security, defeated Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of well-liked former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in a runoff during an internal party election on Saturday. If she leads the government, she would replace the current prime minister as the party seeks to regain public support and stay in power. Despite suffering major losses in elections, the LDP remains by far the largest party in the lower house and thus determines Japan’s leader because opposition groups are highly splintered. Takaichi, an outspoken conservative who has cited former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as her hero, has called for strengthening Japan’s military and adopting a tougher stance toward China and North Korea. She also opposes same-sex marriage and maintains ties to nationalist groups. Takaichi could meet with President Donald Trump, who might press Japan to raise its defense spending. A meeting is reportedly planned for late October. Trump is poised to travel to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea starting Oct. 31. The LDP will also need help from the opposition, which it has long neglected, and is likely to seek to broaden its coalition with the moderate centrist Komeito and at least one of the key opposition parties, which are more centrist. A parliamentary vote is expected in mid-October.