In a decisive turn of events, former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba emerged victorious in the race to lead Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Friday, positioning himself to succeed incumbent Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as the nation’s next leader.
The outcome of the LDP’s leadership election virtually guarantees the winning candidate to assume the role of prime minister, given the party’s dominant control over the influential lower chamber of parliament. Ishiba, recognized for his expertise in security matters, prevailed over Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi in a run-off contest, necessitated after none of the initial nine candidates secured a majority in the first round of voting.
