BREAKING NEWS: Patriotic Candidate Sanae Takaichi Crushes It with 185 Votes Against Koizumi and Leads the Liberal Democratic Party as Japan’s First Woman Candidate for Prime Minister
Sanae Takaichi, a conservative and nationalist politician, was elected this Saturday, October 4, 2025, as the new president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Japan’s ruling party.
Takaichi, 64 years old, defeated Shinjiro Koizumi in the second round with 185 votes to 156, positioning herself as the likely next prime minister of the Asian country. She obtained 149 votes from legislators and 36 votes from LDP chapters, surpassing Koizumi’s 145 votes from legislators and 11 from prefecture chapters. This was her third candidacy for party leadership.
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— Mia (@Mialygosa) October 4, 2025
Sanae Takaichi seria elegida como nueva Primer Ministro de Japón. Conocida por su postura conservadora y su cercanía al primer ministro Shinzo Abe.
Es considerada como una de las figuras más duras de la ultraderecha japonesa y la primer mujer en el cargo. pic.twitter.com/7fX1WsGNvE
This result marks a milestone: Takaichi would be the first woman to lead Japan, in a context where the LDP seeks to regain public trust after funding scandals and electoral defeats that left it in a parliamentary minority.
Her victory reflects discontent with lukewarm policies and the rise of firm stances against illegal immigration and Chinese expansionism, aligning with the «new patriotic right» that is gaining ground in the West and Asia.
In the first round, no one obtained a majority, but in the runoff, Takaichi captured the support of conservative bases that demand a «Japan first» approach, with emphasis on defense, constitutional revision, and strong alliances with the U.S. and Taiwan.
Takaichi, former Minister of Economic Security, has promised to «work tirelessly» to unite the party and address challenges such as the stagnant economy, aging population, and regional tensions with China, Russia, and North Korea. Her stance against Beijing and support for a «quasi-security alliance» with Taiwan have been well received by leaders like Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who called her a «staunch friend of Taiwan.»
Takaichi, who has visited Washington on several occasions and met with Republican congressmen, defends an unbreakable alliance with the United States, which she considers the pillar of Japanese security against threats from China and North Korea. In her campaign speech, she reiterated her commitment to strengthening bilateral military cooperation, including the deployment of long-range missiles in Japan and support for the QUAD initiative, which unites Washington, Tokyo, Canberra, and New Delhi against Chinese expansionism.
Parliament will vote on October 15, and although the LDP needs opposition support, analysts take her inauguration for granted. This adds Japan to the list of nations with patriotic right-wing governments, contrasting with leftist agendas that prioritize globalism over sovereignty.
Her leadership promises a more assertive Japan, rejecting concessions to external pressures.
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