Japan coalition set to back Takaichi as first woman prime minister: Reports

 

Local media reports that Sanae Takaichi will become Japan's first female prime minister if a coalition government between the ruling party and the main opposition party is formed. Sanae Takaichi, the leader of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and Hirofumi Yoshimura, the head of the smaller right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (JIP), known as Ishin, are set to sign an agreement on their alliance on Monday, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday.

This month, Takaichi took over as leader of the LDP, but her attempt to become Japan's first female premier was thwarted when her governing coalition collapsed. Since then, the LDP has been working to form a new political alliance, improving its chances of winning the presidency.

The LDP has entrusted Takaichi with handling the coalition matter, while the JIP will hold an executive board gathering in Osaka on Sunday and a plenary meeting of lawmakers the following day before giving final approval to the agreement with the LDP,” Kyodo reported.

 Japan’s leading Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper also said that Takaichi and Yoshimura were “likely to sign a coalition agreement after talks on Monday”.

 After the Komeito party, the junior partner of the LDP, left the governing coalition after 26 years, the country was plunged into a political crisis. This led to reports of a new coalition. The sealing of an alliance between the LDP and JIP could lead to Takaichi’s election as premier as early as Tuesday, but the parties are still two seats short of a majority to pass the vote.