Shigeru Ishiba elected as the leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, becoming the next Prime Minister | WPN World People News

Voting for the leadership election of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party took place on the 27th. Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister and a five-time candidate for the position, declared this as his last battle in politics. In the second round of voting, he narrowly defeated his opponent Sanae Takaichi, becoming the 28th leader of the LDP. He is expected to be nominated as the next Prime Minister of Japan, succeeding Fumio Kishida.

On the afternoon of the 27th, the results of the first round of voting were announced, aligning with predictions from Japanese media and prior analyses. Takaichi, Ishiba, and former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi received 181, 154, and 136 votes respectively, placing them in the top three. Since no candidate secured a majority in the first round, the rules stipulated that the top two candidates proceed to a runoff. Ultimately, Ishiba won with 215 votes, narrowly surpassing Takaichi's 194, a margin of just 21 votes.

At 67 years old, Ishiba comes from a political family. He first became a member of the House of Representatives in 1986 and has since been re-elected 12 times over 38 years. He has held positions such as Secretary-General of the LDP, Director-General of the Defense Agency, and Minister of Defense, accumulating extensive experience in defense issues. During the tenures of Shinzo Abe and Taro Aso, Ishiba often criticized his own party, positioning himself as a progressive within the LDP, which garnered him support from grassroots party members and the younger generation.

Ishiba is known for his clear views on national security and pragmatic political stances, advocating for strengthening Japan's defense and promoting constitutional reform to allow for a more powerful military. He also proposed the establishment of a NATO-like alliance in Asia to prevent incidents in the Taiwan Strait.

In his acceptance speech, Ishiba expressed his commitment to making Japan a country where people can smile and live peacefully, a nation with courage, sincerity, and the willingness to speak the truth. With the LDP holding a majority in both houses of parliament, Ishiba is expected to be nominated as the next Prime Minister during the extraordinary session of parliament on October 1, when the new cabinet will also be inaugurated.