Shigeru Ishiba (AP file photo)
Former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba emerged victorious in the race to lead Japan‘s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Friday, positioning him to succeed Fumio Kishida as the country’s next prime minister.
Ishiba won the ruling LDP leadership election, securing 215 votes to become Japan’s next leader. The former defence minister defeated Sanae Takaichi, who garnered 194 votes, in a closely contested race.
Here’s all you need to know about Japan’s next PM Shigeru Ishiba:
- The 67-year-old Shigeru Ishiba has taken control of Japan’s long-ruling and scandal-plagued LDP and is set to lead the world’s fourth-largest economy once parliament convenes in October, due to the LDP’s majority in the lower house.
- Ishiba, one of nine candidates, won the leadership race by defeating
economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, who had hoped to become Japan’s first female prime minister, in a runoff.Shinjiro Koizumi , the charismatic, US-educated son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, was another frontrunner who didn’t make the final cut.
- This victory marks Ishiba’s fifth attempt to lead the LDP, a dominant political force that has governed Japan almost continuously since its founding in 1955.
- Known for his willingness to criticise his own party, Ishiba has made powerful enemies within the LDP, but his outspoken nature has gained him popularity among grassroots members and the public. He is seen as part of the more progressive wing of the conservative party.
- Ishiba has pledged a “full exit” from Japan’s high inflation, with a focus on boosting real wages. He also supports reforms such as allowing married women to keep their maiden names, reducing Japan’s reliance on nuclear energy in favor of renewables, and creating an Asian version of Nato to address security threats from China and North Korea.
- He will replace outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who announced his resignation in August after just one term, after a series of political scandals that led to public pressure for his departure.
