Sanae Takaichi was elected leader of Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party and is likely to become the U.S. ally’s next prime minister.
Takaichi defeated Shinjiro Koizumi 185 to 156 in a runoff vote to become the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed Japan since World War II. Her election followed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s announcement that he would step down after one year in office.
While Takaichi is likely to succeed Ishiba as prime minister, this is not guaranteed, as the LDP-led coalition recently lost its majority in both houses. In her victory speech, she emphasized the challenges ahead and the need to revitalize the LDP, which has struggled with corruption scandals.
At 64, Takaichi is a hard-line conservative who admires former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and was allied with the late Shinzo Abe. While many in the party see her as a return to Abe’s policies, her nationalistic views may strain relations with China and South Korea.
A key priority for Takaichi will be implementing a trade deal with the Trump administration, which includes a 15% U.S. tariff on Japanese goods. She has proposed reopening discussions on this deal, which features a pledge for Japan to invest $550 billion in the U.S.
