Sanae Takaichi, a hardline conservative and admirer of Margaret Thatcher, is poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister after winning the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership runoff against Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
Backed by influential LDP veteran and former Prime Minister Taro Aso, Takaichi is expected to appoint him as deputy prime minister.
Her leadership comes as the LDP faces declining popularity due to economic stagnation, rising immigration concerns, and past political scandals, dw.com reports.
Takaichi pledged to rebuild the party and mobilize all generations of Japanese citizens ahead of the parliamentary vote on October 15 that is expected to confirm her premiership.
A longtime Cabinet minister and political heir to the late Shinzo Abe, Takaichi aims to continue Abe’s nationalist and market-friendly policies, focusing on economic growth and Japan’s traditionalist values. She has earned the nickname “Japan’s Iron Lady” for her admiration of Thatcher.
However, her hardline stances have drawn criticism. She is a wartime history revisionist, a China hawk, and regularly visits the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
Her conservative views on gender include support for male-only imperial succession, opposition to equal pay reforms, and backing for traditional surname laws for married couples.
Takaichi has also advocated tougher immigration policies, citing unverified incidents to stress the need for stricter controls on visitors and immigrants, reflecting concerns about Japan’s increasingly diverse population.
Her premiership is likely to balance nationalist ideals with pragmatic measures, as she navigates both domestic and international political realities.
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