Japan's parliament on Wednesday approved the selection of Sanae Takaichi as prime minister. This decision followed the Liberal Democratic Party's crushing victory in recent parliamentary elections. Takaichi, dubbed the 'iron lady' of contemporary politics, solidified her power by gaining control of two-thirds of the lower house of parliament. She is the first woman in history to head the government in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Re-election of Sanae Takaichi

Japan's parliament officially confirmed Sanae Takaichi in the position of Prime Minister following her historic electoral success.

Parliamentary Dominance of the LDP

The ruling coalition now controls two-thirds of the seats in parliament, which amounts to 352 mandates and enables free legislative changes.

Political Profile of the Prime Minister

Takaichi represents an ultra-conservative current, promoting traditional national values and seeking to strengthen the country's defense potential.

Wednesday's session of Japan's National Diet formally confirmed the dominance of Sanae Takaichi on the national political scene. Following snap elections on February 8, 2026, her home party – the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) – along with its coalition partner secured 352 out of 465 seats in parliament. Such a strong mandate allows the head of government to implement key reforms without fear of opposition blockage. Takaichi had already served as prime minister for the previous three months, taking over after her predecessor's resignation, but the current selection legitimizes her leadership by the nation. Japan's parliamentary system was established after World War II, and the Liberal Democratic Party has dominated it almost continuously since 1955, with only brief interruptions for opposition rule. The new-old prime minister's program is based on ultra-conservative values and strong nationalism, which evokes mixed feelings in the East Asia region. Sanae Takaichi, known for playing drums and being active as an influencer, declares a fight for the traditional family model, which is often interpreted as an anti-feminist stance. In the economic and defense spheres, she plans to continue the policy of military strengthening for Japan in the face of rising regional tensions. Her victory is seen as a signal of stability, but also a turn towards a more assertive foreign policy. „This victory belongs to the nation, which chose the path of stability and tradition in these uncertain times.” — Sanae Takaichi Both financial markets and international allies are closely watching the first steps of the Takaichi government with such strong parliamentary support. It is predicted that the prime minister will use the two-thirds majority to push through constitutional changes, which has been a dream of the Japanese right for years. Although her style can be polarizing, the unprecedented election result gives her the strongest political position in Japan in decades. 352 seats — won by the ruling coalition in the 465-member parliamentLDP Coalition: 352, Opposition and others: 113 Japan has been struggling with demographic problems and economic stagnation for years, which has become the main challenge for successive governments since the early 1990s, known as the 'lost decades'.

Mentioned People

  • Sanae Takaichi — The first woman to hold the position of Prime Minister of Japan, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, representing the ultra-conservative current.
  • Emmanuel Macron — President of France, mentioned in the context of a diplomatic trip to India and arms contracts.