The announcement came Saturday after a tense intraparty runoff against Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the 44-year-old son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Takaichi secured victory with 149 votes from lawmakers to Koizumi's 145 in the decisive second round, bolstered by stronger support from party members (36 votes to 11). This narrow win reflects deep divisions within the LDP, which has governed Japan for nearly all of the postwar era but now faces an uphill battle to regain public trust.

Takaichi's ascension follows the abrupt resignation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba last month, after just over a year in office marred by election defeats that stripped the LDP-led coalition of its parliamentary majority. Ishiba, a moderate, stepped down amid scandals over political funding and criticism for failing to curb rising living costs and inflation. Takaichi, a protégé of the late Shinzo Abe and a regular visitor to Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine, represents a sharper right-wing shift, emphasizing national security and traditional values.

Admiring former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as her role model, Takaichi has vowed to "forge a more spirited and vibrant party" and restore the LDP's "right-wing DNA" to recapture disillusioned voters. In her victory speech, she acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, "Rather than feeling joyful now, I realise the real challenge lies ahead," and pledging to abandon work-life balance in pursuit of party revival.

If confirmed, Takaichi is expected to be formally elected prime minister by parliament on October 15, as opposition parties—fractured and unlikely to unite—lack the numbers to block her. She inherits a nation grappling with economic pressures, including soaring prices and stagnant wages, alongside regional tensions with China and North Korea. As a self-described "China hawk," Takaichi has promised more assertive diplomacy, including frequent overseas trips to declare "Japan is Back!" and honoring U.S. investment deals under President Donald Trump.

Yet her conservative stances—opposing reforms like allowing married women to retain maiden names—have drawn criticism from women's rights advocates, who question her commitment to gender equality despite the historic milestone. Analysts warn her hardline views could alienate moderates and complicate ties with Asian neighbors, potentially jolting markets in the world's fourth-largest economy.

As Japan navigates this era of instability, Takaichi's leadership will test whether a Thatcher-inspired iron will can unify a fractured party and steer the nation toward recovery.

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