Sanae Takaichi elected as Japan’s first female Prime Minister

In a landmark political moment, Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has been elected as the nation’s first female prime minister. Takaichi secured 237 votes in the 465-member lower house on Tuesday, comfortably crossing the majority threshold and paving the way for her formal inauguration. Takaichi will form a new coalition government with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), following the LDP’s split from long-time ally Komeito. She will formally take office this evening after being appointed by the Emperor, followed by her first press conference. The new LDP-JIP coalition will focus on economic reform, national security, energy, and foreign policy.
The historic victory marks a significant step for gender representation in Japanese politics, where women have long been underrepresented in leadership roles. Takaichi, known for her conservative yet pragmatic stance on governance, will be sworn in as Japan’s 104th prime minister, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned last month following his party’s poor performance in the recent elections.The less powerful upper house is also expected to endorse her appointment, completing the parliamentary procedure for her assumption of office. 
Takaichi, a veteran lawmaker with decades of political experience, has pledged to revitalize Japan’s economy, strengthen national security, and accelerate innovation. Her leadership is anticipated to bring a fresh perspective to the country’s policy priorities while maintaining stability within the ruling coalition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Sanae Takaichi on her election as the Prime Minister of Japan. In a social media post,  Modi said that he is looking forward to working closely with her to further strengthen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. He said the deepening ties between the two nations are vital for peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.