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History is being made as Japan prepares for its first woman prime minister, following Sanae Takaichi emerged victorious as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). This victory ensures her appointment as the country's new leader by mid-month.

A Hawkish Politician Prevails

Takaichi, a rightwinger who has voiced praise for Margaret Thatcher in her mission to build a “powerful and thriving” Japan on the international stage, overcame her centrist opponent, Shinjiro Koizumi, in a second-round vote at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo this past weekend.

The election for party president was triggered by the former prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, leaving office after just a year in office. Ishiba, a liberal whose election last year had alienated the right wing of his party, stated it was time to appoint a replacement to lead a “reformed Liberal Democratic Party”.

Taking Over a Struggling Party

Takaichi, 64, assumes leadership of a party that has endured two difficult elections in the past year as voters punished it over a money-related impropriety and its failure to address the economic hardship.

“In recent times, I have heard strong feedback from across the country saying we are unsure what the LDP believes in any more,” Takaichi said moments before the runoff vote. “That sense of urgency propelled me. I wanted to turn people’s anxieties about their everyday existence and the future into optimism.”

Voting Process

In line with forecasts, Takaichi won the first round, securing 183 of 589 votes, with Koizumi in the runner-up position with 164 votes. Three other candidates were knocked out from the contest. The second round, in which MPs’ votes were given greater weight than those of grassroots supporters, was expected to help Koizumi, who was said to be better liked among lawmakers. But it was Takaichi who came out victorious after the final ballot.

Road to Prime Minister

While the LDP-led coalition no longer holds a majority of seats in parliament, Takaichi is widely expected to be elected as prime minister when MPs vote later this month.

To block her from the prime ministership, opposition parties would have to rally around their own candidate – a scenario observers agree is highly unlikely.

Pressing Issues

Her first priority will be to bring together the LDP and restore public support after over twelve months of scandal and voting defeats.

She will also have to tackle public concern over migration and excessive visitor numbers, and try to attract younger voters who supported fringe groups such as Sanseito in this summer’s upper house elections. Japan should “review policies that allow in people with completely different cultures and backgrounds”, Takaichi said while campaigning.

Symbolism and Stance

It is difficult to exaggerate the significance of Takaichi’s victory in a country that has few female politicians and business leaders, and consistently ranks poorly in global gender gap comparisons. She has, nevertheless, opposed policies that many voters believe would advance the cause of gender equality, such as permitting women to become empresses regnant and married couples to use individual family names.

Political Landscape

The Saturday's election had been described by analysts as a contest for the soul of the LDP, which has led the nation almost uninterrupted for the post-war era. Its ruling position has been severely damaged, however, by a enduring impropriety involving dozens of MPs who were found to have funneled hidden funds from the sale of tickets to party gatherings into secret accounts.

Takaichi, a security hardliner, will also face a tense strategic landscape in east Asia, including the rise of a fragmented opposition bloc comprising China, Russia and North Korea, and the restructuring of economic ties with the US under Donald Trump, who will allegedly travel to the country towards the end of the month.

Election Procedure

Each of the LDP’s 295 lawmakers submitted their choice in the opening stage of Saturday’s vote, with an identical count of votes allocated based on the preferences of just over 1 million ordinary members who had already cast their votes.

After none of the candidates secured an overall majority in the first round, Takaichi and Koizumi faced off, with each of the LDP’s 295 lawmakers having a single ballot and the membership’s share reduced to 47 votes, one for each of Japan’s prefectures.