Japan’s ruling party elects Sanae Takaichi as new leader, likely to become first female prime minister

Tokyo – On Saturday, the ruling Japan Party was elected former Economic Security Minister Sana Takaychi, the super -lined and China Hook, as a new leader, which makes her possible to become the first prime minister in the country.

In a country that is ranked international for gender equality, the 64 -year -old Takaychi is making history as the first leader of the conservative Democratic Party in Japan for a long time. Takaichi is one of the most conservative members of the male -dominated party.

Takaychi, a fan of former British Prime Minister Margaret Tischer, is Protec for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abi, a regular matter in the Yasoconi shrine, which is seen as a symbol of the Japanese military in wartime, which may complicate Tokyo’s relations with its Asian neighbors.

Takaychi defeated the Minister of Agriculture, Cengero Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junishiro Quizumi, on a superficial tour of a vote by the Liberal Democratic Party on Saturday.

Takaichi replaces Prime Minister Shigro Ishiba, where the party hopes to restore public support and stay in power after the main election losses.

It is possible that the next Japanese Prime Minister is that the party remains the largest in the House of Representatives, which determines the national leader, and because the opposition groups are largely divided.

“Now, after the liberal Democratic Party has its first president, her scene will change a little,” said Takaychi, who was trying the president.

Takaichi pledged to strengthen the Japan and United States coalition

Takaychi later said that she will immediately work on high prices, also focusing on diplomatic and security challenges.

A parliamentary vote is expected in mid -October. The Liberal Democratic Party, which was criticized by opposition leaders to create a long political vacuum, said that Takaychi needs to be accelerated because the winner will soon face a diplomatic test: a possible summit with US President Donald Trump, who could demand Japan to increase its defensive spending.

According to what was mentioned in a meeting in late October. Trump will travel to the summit of economic cooperation in Asia Pacific in South Korea starting October 31.

Takaychi said that the guarantee that the Japan and the United States coalition is its higher diplomatic priority.

“It is necessary … to confirm the strengthening of the Japanese coalition and the United States,” she said. Takaichi emphasized the importance of their cooperation through the tripartite frameworks in directions that also include regional partners such as South Korea, Australia and the Philippines, which pledged to Japan’s greatest role in achieving the free and open Pacific Ocean.

She said that she respects all customs duties and investment agreements between Tokyo and Washington during the era of Ishiba.

Takaichi faces major local challenges

The Democratic Democratic Party, which was left by its successive losses in the parliamentary elections last year, left it in the minority in both chambers, needs its new leader to restore the confidence and stability of the voters quickly and address the challenges in Japan and abroad. Takaichi will also need cooperation from the main opposition groups to implement its party’s policies.

“I hope that the Democratic Democratic Party will gather the new party (the party) (the party) to serve the country and people, as well as for the new world,” said Ishiba, who achieved a 15 % tariff deal with Washington and put Japan’s relations with South Korea and other Asian countries on the right track during his work period for one year.

Ishiba, a center known as Archrival of Abe, was forced to resign through very conservative pavilions in the party.

There were five candidates for this position

Five candidates – two are currently serving and three former ministers – competing for the presidency of the liberal Democratic Party.

On Saturday’s vote on only 295 LDP parliamentarians and about a million members pay the dues. It only reflected 1 % of the Japanese audience.

It seems that the choice of the night Democratic Party for Takaichi, instead of the most realistic Koizumi to liberalism, apparently emphasizes the party’s hope for the restoration of conservative voters who supported emerging groups on the extreme right like Sanseito in the parliamentary elections in July.

But LDP also needs the help of the opposition, which has long neglected. The party is likely to look forward to expanding its current alliance with the mild medium comet with at least one of the main opposition parties, which are the most medium.

Takaychi moved away from her conservative and opposite views during the election campaigns

Like Takaichi, like other candidates, they described themselves as a “moderate conservative” during the period before the elections to show their willingness to work with the opposition and move away from emphasizing its opposition to liberal social issues or the anti -debt policies.

On Saturday, Takaychi said that the case of Yasoconi should not be a diplomatic issue and that she would consider how to “respect the dead war and pray for peace.”

It supports greater financial spending for growth, strongest military security and cyberspace security, as well as strict regulations on increasing tourists and foreign workers. She was criticized for her martyrdom with unconfirmed reports to foreigners to kick the deer in Nara, her hometown, saying that many of the perpetrators of foreign laws have survived the indictment due to the lack of translators.

Experts say that the candidates have avoided discussing their usual political opinions on historical issues, gay marriage and other controversial issues, including the party’s political money scandal, which was the biggest cause of their losses in the elections, and anti -corruption measures. Analysts said that avoiding these issues raised their doubts about the party’s ability to restore the confidence of the public.

Voters in the center of Tokyo said that they hope that Takaychi, as the first leader, will bring changes.

“I have expectations,” said Massami Nakagawa. “I hope you develop a stronger feeling of balance as soon as you become prime minister.”

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AP Ayaka McGill video journalist in Tokyo contributed to this report.