Sanae Takaichi has been elected by Japan’s parliament as the as the country’s first female Prime Minister.
Takaichi won 237 votes — four more than a majority — compared to 149 won by Yoshikoko Noda, head of the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, in the lower house, which elects the Prime Minister.
Takaichi replaces Shigeru Ishiba, ending a three-month political vacuum and wrangling since the Liberal Democratic Party’s disastrous election loss in July.
Ishiba, who lasted only one year as Prime Minister, resigned with his Cabinet earlier in the day, paving the way for his successor.
Takaichi’s win came a day after her struggling party, the Liberal Democratic Party struck a coalition deal with a new partner expected to pull her governing bloc further to the right.
The LDP’s alliance with the Osaka-based rightwing Japan Innovation Party, or Ishin no Kai, ensured her premiership because the opposition is not united.
However, 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 — a risk that could make her government unstable and short-lived.
The two parties signed a coalition agreement on policies underscoring Takaichi’s hawkish and nationalistic views.
Takaichi said at Monday’s signing ceremony with the JIP leader and Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura that political stability is “essential right now.” She added, “Without stability, we cannot push measures for a strong economy or diplomacy.”
Their last-minute deal came after the Liberal Democrats lost its longtime partner, the Buddhist-backed Komeito, which has a more dovish and centrist stance. The breakup threatened a change of power for the LDP, which has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for decades.
When Komeito left the governing coalition, it cited the LDP’s lax response to slush fund scandals that led to their consecutive election defeats.
The centrist party also raised concern about Takaichi’s revisionist view of Japan’s wartime past and her regular prayers at Yasukuni Shrine despite protests from Beijing and Seoul that see the visits as lack of remorse about Japanese aggression, as well as her recent xenophobic remarks.
While she is the first woman serving as Japan’s Prime Minister, Takaichi is in no rush to promote gender equality or diversity.
She is among Japanese politicians who have stonewalled measures for women’s advancement. Takaichi supports the imperial family’s male-only succession and opposes same-sex marriage and allowing separate surnames for married couples.
An admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi was first elected to parliament in 1993 and has served in a number of senior party and government posts, including as ministers of economic security and internal affairs, but her diplomatic background is thin.
Also a protege of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi is expected to emulate his policies including a stronger military and economy, as well as revising Japan’s pacifist constitution. With her potentially weak grip on power, it’s unknown how much Takaichi will be able to achieve.
Sanae Takaichi To Present Cabinet
Later in the day, Takaichi, 64, will present a Cabinet with a number of allies of LDP’s most powerful kingmaker, Taro Aso, and others who backed her in the party leadership vote.
Yoshimura said that JIP will not hold ministerial posts in Takaichi’s Cabinet until his party is confident about its partnership with the LDP.
Takaichi is running on deadline, 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.
READ ALSO: US, Australia Ink Rare Earth Mineral Deal
