Former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to become Japan’s next prime minister after securing victory in the ruling party’s leadership election, according to the official count.
At 67, Mr. Ishiba triumphed over Sanae Takaichi, who aspired to be the nation’s first female leader, in a decisive run-off.
Upon the announcement of his victory at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters in Tokyo, Mr. Ishiba displayed a broad smile while removing his glasses to wipe away tears, bowing repeatedly as he received congratulations from his associates.
“I will do my utmost to trust the people, to speak the truth with both courage and sincerity, and to transform this country into a safe and secure place where everyone can live with a smile again,” he expressed in a brief speech.
The military model-maker, who has a passion for 1970s pop idols, believes his experience in addressing challenging social issues, such as agricultural reforms, equips him well for the role.
As scandals breed public dissatisfaction with the LDP, Yu Uchiyama, a politics professor at the University of Tokyo, noted prior to the vote, “the tide favors Ishiba and his ‘fair and square’ approach.”
The conservative party has held power almost continuously for decades and maintains a majority, which means Mr. Ishiba will be formally elected as premier by parliament on Tuesday.
As prime minister, he will confront regional security challenges, including an increasingly assertive China with its growing ties to Russia and North Korea’s continued missile tests.
Domestically, Mr. Ishiba will be charged with revitalizing the economy as the central bank moves away from years of monetary easing that has devalued the yen.
In the initial voting round, a record nine candidates were in contention after the LDP’s historically dominant factions disbanded earlier this year due to a funding scandal.
Ms. Takaichi, serving as economic security minister, is a passionate nationalist who enjoys substantial support from the LDP’s conservative faction.
The 63-year-old has strong ties to Mr. Abe, whose supporters still hold significant influence.
In third place, behind Mr. Ishiba and Ms. Takaichi, was the former environment minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, an avid surfer and son of a former prime minister from the 2000s.
LDP leaders have a three-year term and can serve a maximum of three consecutive terms. The unpopular Prime Minister Fumio Kishida chose not to run for re-election.
The LDP has ruled Japan for almost uninterrupted decades, with the primary opposition parties rarely viewed as legitimate alternatives.
During his time in office, Mr. Kishida initiated plans to double Japan’s defence budget and opened avenues for military exports as the LDP aims to amend the pacifist post-war constitution.
He hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a G7 summit in Hiroshima and worked to strengthen Japan’s often strained relations with neighboring South Korea.
Nevertheless, his administration faced challenges, including scandals, public frustration over rising prices, and declining approval ratings.
