Japan's ruling party elects Sanae Takaichi as leader, likely to become first female PM

"TOKYO Japan's governing party on Saturday elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, a hard-line ultra-conservative and China hawk, as its new leader, making her likely to become the country's first female prime minister. In a country that ranks poorly internationally for gender equality, the 64-year-old Takaichi makes history as the first female leader of Japan's long-governing conservative Liberal Democratic Party."

"Takaichi beat Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in a runoff in a vote by the LDP on Saturday. Takaichi replaces Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as the party hopes to regain public support and stay in power after major election losses. She is likely to be Japan's next prime minister because the party remains by far the largest in the lower house, which determines the national leader, and because opposition groups are highly splintered."

Sanae Takaichi won the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party and is poised to become Japan's first female prime minister. She is a hard-line ultraconservative, a China hawk, an admirer of Margaret Thatcher and a protégé of Shinzo Abe's ultra-conservative vision. Takaichi is a regular visitor to the Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of wartime militarism that could strain regional relations. She defeated Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff as the LDP seeks to rebuild after major election losses. The party's dominant position in the lower house and a fragmented opposition make her likely national leader.

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