Japan's Lower House Elects Sanae Takaichi as First Female Prime Minister
The Japanese House of Representatives has voted in favor of Sanae Takaichi, President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), making her the first woman in Japanese history to hold the position of Prime Minister, and she is set to form her new government.
Takaichi secured 237 votes out of 465 in the House vote, ensuring her victory in the first round. Her main rival, Yoshihiro Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, came in second with 149 votes.
The LDP, which does not have a parliamentary majority on its own, had formed an alliance with the conservative party "Association for the Restoration of Japan" on the eve of the vote, guaranteeing Takaichi's victory.
At 64 years old and from the western prefecture of Nara, Takaichi is classified as a conservative and advocates for the preservation of traditional values. Throughout her political career, she has opposed the legalization of same-sex marriage in Japan and expressed reservations about the possibility of a woman ascending to the Japanese imperial throne.
One of her most notable positions is her call to revise Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which stipulates the renunciation of the possession of armed forces and the use of war to resolve international conflicts.
She also opposes the politicization of visits to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, although she has personally visited it several times. The shrine is considered by several Asian countries to be a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
Takaichi is subject to Russian sanctions imposed on May 4, 2022, while she was heading the LDP's Policy Council, in response to Tokyo's policies towards Russia.
Despite her historic accession to the post, Japanese politics is not expected to undergo a radical transformation under her tenure. During her election campaign, she emphasized the importance of strengthening the alliance with the United States and developing Japan's defense capabilities.
