Japan Liberal Democratic Party Plans Leadership Election Amid Historic Challenges

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is set to elect a new leader on October 4, who will become the country's next prime minister amid significant political and economic challenges. The outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned after historic losses in both parliamentary chambers, leaving the new leader to govern without a majority for the first time since 1955. The frontrunners are Sanae Takaichi, who could be Japan's first female prime minister and advocates for wage-driven inflation and strategic investments, and Shinjiro Koizumi, a younger reformist promising conservative fiscal policies and wage increases. The leadership race has been marred by controversies, including allegations of orchestrated online praise for Koizumi and xenophobic remarks by candidates, overshadowing substantive policy discussions. Following the leadership election, an extraordinary parliamentary session is planned in mid-October to elect the prime minister, with the LDP seeking to broaden its coalition to secure stable governance. Opposition parties remain divided on fielding a joint candidate, making the LDP's nominee the likely next prime minister despite the coalition's lack of majority.