The Japanese Parliament elected Sanae Takaichi as the new prime minister on Tuesday, making her the first woman in the country's history to hold the position. The 64-year-old leader, one of the most conservative figures in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), takes power following a parliamentary election that forced her party to negotiate a coalition with the Japan Restoration Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai).
akaichi firma el acuerdo de coalición entre el Liberal Democratic Party y el Japan Innovation Party
The LDP had lost its majority in the Upper House after the nationalist Sanseito party made gains, which left the ruling party needing to consolidate a stable parliamentary alliance.
A message of stability and responsibility
Upon taking office, Takaichi delivered a speech in which she emphasized her commitment to Japan's economic development and institutional stability. “I'm very excited to work with you in efforts to make Japan's economy stronger and to reorganize Japan as a country that can be responsible for future generations,” she stated as she signed the coalition agreement with the Japan Restoration Party.
anae Takaichi tras su elección por el Parlamento japonés como primera ministra
In statements reported by Le Monde, the new leader said that her government will seek “to make the Japanese economy more robust and to reshape Japan as a country capable of fulfilling its responsibilities to future generations.”
Profile of the prime minister
A former Minister of Communications and close to the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi has advocated a government line based on national sovereignty,military strengthening and constitutional reform. She proposes to review Article 9 of the Constitution—which limits the use of the armed forces—and to increase the defense budget in response to growing tensions with China and North Korea.
On the economic front, her administration will seek to boost competitiveness and innovation, reduce dependence on public spending and foster a more favorable environment for private investment. Local analysts point out that her program combines fiscal discipline with an economic modernization agenda.
La primera ministra mujer electa en Japón
Takaichi's rise to power marks a milestone in Japanese politics, historically dominated by men. Her election is seen as a sign of institutional openness, although she keeps a conservative approach to values and foreign policy.
With this appointment, Japan joins the list of Asian countries that have had women as heads of government, such as India, the Philippines, or South Korea, in what many observers interpret as a new chapter for Japanese politics.
