Overview

• Takaichi won the party runoff 185–156 over Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, becoming the LDP’s first female leader.
• By convention the LDP chief becomes prime minister, and she is expected to prevail given the opposition’s fragmentation.
• After losing its upper‑house majority in July, the LDP–Komeito bloc now governs without a majority and will need outside votes to pass bills.
• A close ally of Shinzo Abe, Takaichi backs tougher policies toward China, tighter immigration rules, and Abenomics‑style fiscal and monetary support.
• Her selection follows Shigeru Ishiba’s September resignation after election setbacks, marking another leadership change in recent years.