Shigeru Ishiba has won in the leadership race of Japan’s ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party, securing his position as Japan’s next Prime Minister. Ishiba defeated Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s Economic Security Minister.
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Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba finally succeeded in his fifth attempt to secure the leadership of the LDP. The victory comes after four unsuccessful bids to lead Japan’s most powerful political party.
Ishiba won 215 votes to 194 in a runoff against Takaichi. Sanae Takaichi, who aimed to become Japan’s first female Prime Minister was one of the nine candidates who entered the leadership race.
However, she fell short in the final round, a missed opportunity to make history. The run-off became necessary after none of the candidates including Ishiba and Takaichi, managed to secure a majority in the first round of voting.
Shigeru Ishiba is considered one of the most experienced politicians in Japan especially within the realm of defense and security.
Over the years, his outspoken and independent stance has set him apart from his party peers. His success in this election is a change, as he is seen as a leader capable of rejuvenating the LDP and restoring public trust in a party plagued by scandals.
His strong grassroots appeal among LDP rank-and-file members and the general public helped him win, even though his earlier candidacies faced opposition from senior LDP leaders.
Ishiba’s election as LDP leader positions him to become Japan’s 65th Prime Minister on October 1, 2024, due to the LDP’s overwhelming majority in the Japanese parliament.
His victory follows the resignation of Fumio Kishida, Japan’s outgoing Prime Minister, who stepped down amid multiple corruption scandals that affected his administration and the LDP.
Kishida, who had served one term as Prime Minister saw his leadership undermined by allegations of misconduct and failure to address pressing domestic concerns such as inflation and the economy.
Ishiba has consistently pushed for policies that enhance Japan’s military capabilities. He supports the creation of an Asian-style NATO to address security threats from an increasingly assertive China and unpredictable North Korea.
His stance includes more oversight of US military bases in Japan and an increase in Japan’s defense budget to counter regional challenges.
Ishiba’s foreign policy vision advocates stronger ties with Japan’s allies particularly the United States and Taiwan. Although Japan does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Ishiba supports Taiwan’s democratic values and promises deeper cooperation.
One of the issues confronting Ishiba is Japan’s cost-of-living crisis. Soaring inflation and wages have left many households struggling to make ends meet.
Ishiba has proposed measures to alleviate the burden on low-income families such as exempting certain essential goods from the 10% consumption tax.
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The LDP has faced numerous scandals in recent years, eroding public trust. These include revelations of ties to a religious organization critics have labeled a cult and scandals related to unrecorded donations.
Ishiba’s primary task will be restoring trust in the party, which has seen a decline in support over the last two years.
As part of his plan to address the economic malaise, Ishiba has advocated for wage increases across the board. However, he is mindful of maintaining fiscal discipline, aligning with his reputation as a fiscal conservative.
He has promised to respect the independence of the Bank of Japan and is cautious about pushing for interest rate hikes.
One of Ishiba’s policy positions is his opposition to the increased reliance on nuclear energy especially after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
While he has softened his stance, now supporting the continued operation of some reactors, he remains an advocate for a transition to renewable energy sources.
Ishiba’s vision for a more secure Japan includes creating an Asian NATO to counter the influence of China and North Korea. However, this idea has been met with resistance from the United States, which sees it as premature.
With US military bases concentrated in Okinawa, Ishiba has proposed greater oversight of these facilities to ensure they align with Japan’s security needs.
He has also suggested that Japan should have a say in how the US would use its nuclear weapons in the region, a stance that could complicate relations with Washington.
Ishiba’s personal interests are somewhat unconventional for a prime minister. He has openly admitted to being fascinated by military history and technology, building model warplanes, ships and trains in his free time. This has earned him a reputation as a military geek, a label he embraces with humor.
Ishiba is seen as an intellectual heavyweight within the LDP particularly on matters of national security. His expertise in defense policy and his previous tenure as defense minister have solidified his reputation as a serious thinker in Japanese politics.
He is known for his introverted nature, Ishiba prefers reading to socializing with fellow politicians. He reportedly reads three books a day, finding more solace in books than in the political fray.
Despite this, he has maintained a public presence through media appearances and social media, where he engages with the public on topics ranging from Japan’s birthrate crisis to ramen noodles.
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