Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative and outspoken China hawk, won the leadership of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Saturday, paving the way for her to become the country’s first female prime minister.

The 64-year-old, who has often cited former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher as her role model, faces the challenge of reviving the LDP at a time when public discontent is growing and new populist forces are gaining traction. Parliament is expected to confirm her as Japan’s fifth prime minister in as many years, with local media reporting that the handover could take place in the week of October 13, AFP reported on Saturday. Advertisement

Takaichi defeated Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, in a run-off vote for the LDP presidency. Koizumi, the son of former premier Junichi

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