Sanae Takaichi has been elected president of Japan’s long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), defeating Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff vote held on Saturday. The 64-year-old former economic security minister now stands poised to become the country’s first woman prime minister, pending a formal vote in parliament.

The LDP remains the largest party in Japan’s lower house, which selects the prime minister, making Takaichi’s confirmation highly likely. However, the party has suffered significant electoral setbacks over the past year, losing its majority in both houses of the Diet under outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba . Voter support has been shaken by rising inflation, a political funds scandal, and dissatisfaction with the party’s handling of the economy.

Satu

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