Japan's 'Far-Right' Takaiichi Declares Candidacy for LDP Leadership Election

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Sanae Takaichi, former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, has declared her candidacy for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election in Japan.

Takaichi, an eight-term member of the House of Representatives representing Nara Prefecture, held a press conference on the 8th to announce her intention to run for the LDP leadership. This brings the number of candidates for the LDP leadership election to two. Earlier, on the 26th of last month, former Secretary-General Fumio Kishida also declared his candidacy. The election is scheduled to take place on the 29th following candidate registration on the 17th.

Takaichi is a far-right female politician known for regularly visiting Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 Class A war criminals, including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo who led the Pacific War, are enshrined. A graduate of Kobe University, she worked as a private broadcaster caster before being first elected as an independent to the House of Representatives (Nara Prefecture constituency) in 1993, and joined the LDP in 1996. She was once part of the largest faction within the LDP, the Hosoda faction, but later left it. She is known to emphasize conservative views and is reportedly supported by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the leader of the Hosoda faction.

On the 3rd, she appeared on a broadcast and argued that visiting Yasukuni Shrine is a matter of "freedom of religion," stating that she would continue to visit the shrine even if she became Prime Minister. She supports constitutional revision to explicitly recognize the Self-Defense Forces and advocates for economic policies under the banner of "New Abenomics," asserting a full continuation of Abe's policies.

However, it is reported that within the LDP there are evaluations that she lacks the capability to lead the party to victory in the upcoming general election (House of Representatives election).

In this election following the expiration of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's LDP leadership term (September 30), who has declared he will not run, Administrative Reform Minister Taro Kono, who has not yet officially announced his candidacy, is also expected to enter the race. Accordingly, the LDP leadership election is anticipated to be a three-way contest among Kishida, Kono, and Takaichi. If Takaichi completes her candidate registration, she will become the second female politician to run in an LDP leadership election since the party's founding in 1955.

The LDP leader is elected by votes from party-affiliated Diet members and party members. The new LDP leader is expected to be nominated as Prime Minister at the extraordinary Diet session scheduled for early next month, succeeding Suga.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.