Japan's Conservative Sanae Takaichi Elected First Female LDP Leader, Set To Become Prime Minister

Sanae Takaichi has been elected leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), positioning her to become the nation's first female prime minister. At 64, Takaichi, a conservative nationalist and admirer of Margaret Thatcher, defeated moderate rival Shinjiro Koizumi, signaling a rightward shift for the party amid losses in parliamentary majorities. She pledges to increase female representation in her cabinet to levels seen in Nordic countries, though experts express skepticism about the potential for substantial progress given her conservative stance and the male-dominated political landscape. Takaichi supports revising Japan's pacifist constitution and advocates for expansive fiscal stimulus, a harder line on China, and potential renegotiations of the U.S.-Japan trade deal, which may affect domestic fiscal policy and international relations. Her leadership arrives as the LDP faces internal crises and declining public trust, with Takaichi tasked with revitalizing the party while navigating nationalist policies that could heighten regional tensions. Despite historic gender milestones, her tenure poses challenges for advancing women's equality in Japan's traditionally conservative political environment.