Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi was elected prime minister of Japan on Tuesday (21st), becoming the country’s first female leader.
Takaichi secured victory in the first round of voting in the Lower House, avoiding a runoff, with 237 votes against Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda’s 149. Lawmakers applauded her both when she cast her vote and after her election.
The outcome was largely guaranteed by Monday’s coalition agreement between the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), which provided the support needed to withstand any opposition challenge.
On Tuesday morning, Takaichi was already moving to form a Cabinet ahead of her formal swearing-in. No JIP lawmakers are expected to join the Cabinet, though early reports suggest that some of her fellow LDP presidential contenders, including Yoshimasa Hayashi, Shinjiro Koizumi, and former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, could secure key Cabinet positions. Hayashi and Koizumi, who served as the government’s top spokesman and farm minister, resigned en masse from the Cabinet of Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday morning.
During her campaign for LDP leadership, Takaichi had indicated she would appoint a high number of female lawmakers to government positions.
Meanwhile, Takashi Endo, JIP parliamentary affairs chief and a key architect of the coalition, is expected to be named adviser to the prime minister.
A former economic security and internal affairs minister, Takaichi has served in the Lower House for around 30 years. She secured the LDP leadership earlier this month on her third attempt.
