Takaichi’s premiership bid in doubt as Japan’s ruling coalition splits

Ms Sanae Takaichi's bid to become Japan’s first female prime minister was thrown into doubt on Oct 10 when her ruling party’s junior coalition partner quit.

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The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled Japan for almost all the postwar era, selected Ms Takaichi, a hardline conservative, as its new head in a weekend vote. But she must win approval in Parliament to become premier later in October.

That had been seen as fairly straightforward, given her coalition had by far the most seats, though it was short of a majority. But with partner Komeito’s exit and opposition parties seeking to unite behind an alternative candidate, her path has suddenly become less certain.

Following a meeting with Ms Takaichi on Oct 10, Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito said the two parties’ 26-year partnership had broken down over the LDP’s failure to respond to a political funding scandal that has dogged the ruling group for two years.

He said Komeito would not support Ms Takaichi in the Parliament vote, expected to be held in the second half of October.