Description: Japan’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party has made substantial progress in securing an alternative coalition partner which would see its newly elected leader, Sanae Takaichi become the country’s new Prime Minister. LDP has successfully negotiated a coalition agreement with the right – leaning Innovation Party, more commonly known as Ishin, as its leader, Hirofumi Yoshimura has stated that negotiations with the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People were not yielding results and Ishin pulled out of those negotiations. Japan’s parliamentary vote for Prime Minister is scheduled to take place on 21 Oct, with LDP and Ishin having secured 233 seats in the lower house and needed two more to secure the majority and enable Takaichi to win.
Impact: After the early political turmoil caused by the exit of Komeito from the coalition with LDP, the ruling party has seemingly secured an alternative partner which almost guarantees Takaichi’s bid for the premiership. She would become Japan’s first female Prime Minister while her policy principles and ideologies are expected to resuscitate Japan’s stagnant economy and focus the new political establishment on tackling domestic issues such as immigration. Takaichi is also expected to lead a more self – centered foreign policy, meaning relations with long – term allies such as South Korea would experience some modifications and changes while she is also expected to take a tougher stance on China, potentially abandoning Japan’s decades long pacifist orientations and increasing the country’s defensive capabilities and regional outreach.