Japan’s governing party on Saturday elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, making her likely to become the country’s first female prime minister.
In a country that ranks poorly internationally for gender equality, Takaichi would make history as the first female leader of Japan’s long-governing conservative Liberal Democratic Party. She is one of the most conservative members of the male-dominated party.
Takaichi beat Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in a runoff in an intraparty vote by the LDP on Saturday.
Takaichi replaces Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as the party hopes to…
