Featured Image Credit: PHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty Images
Topics: Japan, Politics, World News, News
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Japan, Politics, World News, News
Japan’s parliament has elected ultra-conservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister.
The move comes a day after her struggling party struck a coalition deal with a new partner expected to pull her governing bloc further to the right.
Takaichi is the fourth Japanese leader is five years. Her historic win marks her third attempt at becoming prime minister, says BBC News, and she's already being branded as Japan's 'Iron Lady' as Takaichi is an admirer of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
Prior to getting into politics Takaichi was a heavy metal drummer. Per the BBC she was famous for having to carry numerous pairs of drum sticks because she'd often break them because of her intense drumming.
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Takaichi also had a brief stint as a television host.
While Takaichi is said to still be a heavy metal enthusiast, she'll have to put her drumsticks aside for the foreseeable as she is running against deadlines as she prepares for a major policy speech later this week, talks with US President Donald Trump and regional summits.
She needs to quickly tackle rising prices and compile economy-boosting measures by late December to address public frustration.
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Takaichi is replacing former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned in September following two disastrous mid-term election results.
Last year, the LDP lost its majority in Japan's lower house, with voters angry about alleged corruption within the party, along with inflation and the rising cost of living. As a result, Ishiba was gone after just a year in office, and Takaichi will be hoping she'll fare slightly better.
She won 237 votes, a slim majority, compared to 149 won by Yoshikoko Noda, head of the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, in the lower house.
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The LDP’s alliance with the Osaka-based right-wing Japan Innovation Party, or Ishin no Kai, ensured her premiership because the opposition is not united.
Takaichi’s untested alliance is still short of a majority in both houses of parliament and will need to court other opposition groups to pass any legislation - which is sure to make things tricky for her.
“Political stability is essential right now,” Takaichi said at Monday’s signing ceremony with the JIP leader and Osaka governor Hirofumi Yoshimura. “Without stability, we cannot push measures for a strong economy or diplomacy.”
The two parties signed a coalition agreement on broadly nationalistic policies.