Sanae Takaichi elected Japan PM, unveils cabinet lineup

Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was officially elected as the country's prime minister on Tuesday after securing support in both houses of parliament, becoming Japan's first female leader.

In the House of Representatives vote, Takaichi received 237 votes, defeating opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party, who received 149 votes, and other candidates.

The House of Councillors also held its vote, but no candidate secured a majority in the first round. Takaichi led with 123 votes, followed by Noda with 44.

As a result, an unprecedented runoff for the upper chamber, the first in 13 years, was triggered between Takaichi and Noda, with Takaichi ultimately winning the race.

By winning in both chambers, she was officially named Japan's 104th prime minister, the first woman in the country to hold the office. The sixty-four-year-old Takaichi was elected LDP president on October 4. The prime ministerial designation vote was initially scheduled for October 15 but was postponed to October 21 due to uncertainty following Komeito's withdrawal from its decades-long coalition with the LDP. This raised doubts about whether Takaichi could secure enough parliamentary support for the PM race.

To secure her votes, Takaichi negotiated with several opposition parties, including the Democratic Party for the People and Japan Innovation Party. With the Japan Innovation Party ultimately deciding to support her, she was able to secure her victory on Tuesday effectively.

Born in 1961 in Nara Prefecture, Takaichi was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1993 and has held several senior positions since then, including minister of internal affairs and communications, minister for economic security, and vice minister of economy, trade, and industry.

A close ally of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she is widely seen as a strong successor to his political agenda.

Takaichi had previously run for the LDP leadership three times. After unsuccessful bids in 2021 and 2024, she won this year by defeating Shinjiro Koizumi in the final round.

In the new cabinet lineup, Minoru Kihara will serve as chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi will become internal affairs minister, Shinjiro Koizumi will take the post of defense minister, and Toshimitsu Motegi will return as foreign minister, all aimed at strengthening party unity and maintaining policy stability.

(With input from Xinhua)