The former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba was elected this Friday as the leader of Japan’s ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and will replace Fumio Kishida as prime minister.
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This was the fifth time that 67-year-old Ishiba ran as a candidate to lead the party. He defeated the current Minister of Economic Security, Sanae Takaichi, who aspired to become the first woman to lead the Asian archipelago.
A record nine candidates ran to take the helm of the LDP, which has been rocked this year by a scandal involving irregular financing.
Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan’s ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party.
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After his victory was announced at the party’s headquarters in Tokyo, Ishiba appeared smiling and removed his glasses to wipe away tears, bowing continuously as his supporters congratulated him.
“I will do everything possible to believe in the people, to speak the truth with courage and sincerity, and to make this country a safe place where everyone can live with a smile on their face again,” he said in a brief speech.
I will do everything possible to believe in the people, to speak the truth with courage and sincerity, and to make this country a safe place
Shigeru Ishiba had aspired to the position four times. In one of those attempts in 2012, he lost to the nationalist Shinzo Abe, who would become the longest-serving prime minister.
A fan of military models and 1970s pop idols, this veteran politician has held the portfolios of Defense and Agriculture and boasts management experience as his main virtue.
With the LDP affected by several scandals that have fueled public discontent, “the trend is in favor of Ishiba and his attitude of ‘justice and fairness,'” noted Yu Uchiyama, a political science professor at the University of Tokyo, before the voting.
The LDP has governed almost uninterruptedly for decades and holds a substantial majority, so Ishiba will be elected prime minister next Tuesday in Parliament.
Fumio Kishida, the current prime minister of Japan, did not run for re-election.
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Ishiba, who will assume his role as head of government on October 1, will have to deal with regional security threats, with an increasingly assertive China in foreign policy and its closer ties with Russia, along with frequent weapons tests from North Korea.
Domestically, he will be tasked with revitalizing the economy and mitigating the impacts on households from inflation and the declining yen, which has made imports more expensive.
The current Minister of Economic Security, Sanae Takaichi, who finished in second place, had the support of the more conservative wing of the LDP and was close to Abe, whose influence remains strong in the party despite his assassination two years ago.
In third place was former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, a surfing enthusiast and son of a former prime minister.
LDP leaders serve three years and can serve up to three consecutive terms. The unpopular Prime Minister Fumio Kishida did not seek re-election.
The current Minister of Economic Security, Sanae Takaichi, finished in second place.
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On a street in Tokyo, Yasumi Fujino, a 72-year-old retiree, told AFP that she was “worried about China” and hoped the “next (ruler) would focus on diplomacy.”
Precisely, China said this Friday that it hopes to improve its ties with Japan for a “stable” and “healthy” relationship.
During his term, Kishida took steps to double defense spending, opening the door to military exports. His party is considering revising the pacifist constitution drafted after World War II.
Fumio Kishida hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the G7 summit in Hiroshima and strengthened the country’s ties with South Korea.
However, his term was also marred by scandals, voter anger over rising prices, and his growing unpopularity in polls.
After the announcement of Ishiba’s election, the yen appreciated by 1% against the dollar, reaching 143.37 yen.