Sanae Takaichi is elected Prime Minister of Japan

The election of Sanae Takaichi as Prime Minister of Japan led to the en bloc resignation of the previous Prime Minister’s Cabinet.

MADRID, Oct. 21 (EUROPA PRESS) – The leader of the government Liberal Democratic Party (PLD)the conservative Healthy Takaichibecame this Tuesday the first woman elected as First Minister of Japan -after 103 men previously in office-, after his nomination was approved in the Parliament following the coalition agreement between his formation and the libertarian Innovationso the stage opens to form the new Government in the Asian country.

Takaichi64 years old, obtained 237 of the 465 votes in the Camera Baja and 123 of the 246 in the Camera Alta in the first round, so the lack of a majority in the second vote caused a repetition against the leader of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, Yoshihiko Nodaa return in which he had 125 supports, achieving his confirmation in the position.

The politician was elected on October 4 as head of the LDP, replacing Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned in the middle of his term to assume responsibility for the party’s two consecutive defeats in elections in Japan, results that caused the party to remain in a minority in both houses of Parliament, hindering its ability to advance legislation.

▼PM Takaichi arrives at the Prime Minister’s Office for the first time.pic.twitter.com/jVr75NHXx3

— PM’s Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) October 21, 2025

Thus, Takaichi was forced to reach a coalition agreement in order to see her candidacy confirmed, something she achieved on Monday with Innovación, which distanced itself from the rest of the opposition last week, putting an end to the efforts of the rest of the parties to name a unity candidate who could take the position.

Previously, Komeito, a historic minority partner of the LDP, withdrew from the talks after the election of Takaichi, a hardline conservative, and in the face of disagreements between the parties over the government formation’s refusal to tighten regulations on political donations.

However, the new coalition lacks a majority in both houses of Parliament – the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors – so the new Government It will also face difficulties in carrying out the legislation, depending on pacts with opposition parties or independents on each of the issues.

In the House of Representatives, with 465 seats, the PLD has 196 representatives, compared to Innovation’s 35, although there are four independents who could tip the balance. The PLD has 101 seats in the Chamber of Councilors, where Innovation has 19 – adding 120 of the 248, the same as the opposition -, with six independents.

Resignation of the Ishiba Government

Takaichi’s election also caused the resignation en bloc of Ishiba’s Cabinet, who spent more than a year at the head of Japan after being named Prime Minister on October 1, 2024, to allow his successor to assemble the new Executive, with some portfolios such as Defense and Finance already decided.

Ishiba’s office noted in a brief statement that the government “resigned en bloc” after a meeting held earlier in the day. “Ishiba decided to resign en bloc from the Cabinet. Afterwards, he issued a statement with this reason,” he said, before highlighting that Ishiba “left the Prime Minister’s office, being greeted by his staff.”

Afterwards, the former Prime Minister assured that “he did everything possible with the intention of interacting sincerely and respectfully with all parliamentary parties and groups in the face of the difficult circumstance of being a minority government party and to speak sincerely to the sovereign citizens of this nation,” as reported by the Japanese newspaper. The Asahi Shimbun.

Regarding the composition of the new Executive, Satsuki Katayama sounds strong as the new Minister of Finance, while Ryosie Akazawa, head of the Japanese delegation in negotiations with the United States on tariffs, could be the next Minister of Commerce, according to sources from the Japanese news agency. Kyodo. In addition, Shinjiro Koizumi could assume the Foreign Affairs portfolio, with Toshimitsu Motegi heading Foreign Affairs.

Takaichi, who was previously Home Secretary and who stated on several occasions that her political inspiration is former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, will now work to form the Government before the planned visit to the country by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who will travel to Japan next week.