Tokyo : Japan’s parliament began voting on Tuesday to elect the country’s next Prime Minister, with Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Sanae Takaichi widely expected to win, backed by a coalition with the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin no Kai).
Earlier, outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his cabinet resigned, ending their administration after just over a year in office. After the vote, Takaichi will finalize her cabinet appointments, and the chief cabinet secretary will announce the lineup, Xinhua reported.
The LDP forged an alliance with the Osaka-based Japan Innovation Party to secure Takaichi’s election despite a fragmented opposition. However, her coalition lacks a clear majority in both houses of parliament, so her government must gain support from other factions to pass legislation, raising questions about long-term stability.
Once elected, 64-year-old Takaichi will appoint a cabinet packed with allies of Taro Aso, a key LDP figure, along with supporters from her party leadership campaign. She has resisted progressive reforms, opposing gender equality changes, same-sex marriage, and separate surnames for married couples.
Meanwhile, opposition parties including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), the Democratic Party for the People, and the Japan Innovation Party tried to unite behind a single candidate but failed to reach agreement. With the Japan Innovation Party aligning with the LDP, the CDP now considers backing its leader Yoshihiko Noda in the upcoming prime ministerial vote.
As voters and politicians watch closely, the PM election 2025 will shape Japan’s political future, highlighting the delicate balance between coalition politics and opposition influence in the Diet.
–IANS
