Shigeru Ishiba emerges as winner of ruling party vote, set to become Japan’s next PM | Elections News

Shigeru Ishiba, a former defence minister, has won the leadership election of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, positioning him to become the country’s next prime minister. After defeating Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi in a tight run-off vote, Ishiba secured a victory with a final count of 215-194. Ishiba’s win comes as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced his resignation amidst corruption scandals within the party. Ishiba, a veteran of the LDP, is set to be formally elected as the 65th prime minister by parliament on October 1, given the party’s majority in the legislature. Ishiba’s campaign focused on security issues and oversight of US bases in Japan, as well as economic concerns such as rural depopulation and questioning the Bank of Japan’s interest rate policy. A change agent within the LDP, Ishiba’s victory marks a significant shift in leadership, with the new prime minister facing challenges including regional security threats and revitalizing the economy. Ishiba’s win reflects a public desire for change within the party, with him being seen as a potential catalyst for reform. With his victory, Ishiba will become the next prime minister with the backing of the majority party in Japan’s parliament.

Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com