Takaichi Elected as Japan's First Female Prime Minister, Ending Three-Month Political Vacuum

Majority Secured in Both House of Representatives and House of Councillors Votes

Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, became the country’s first female prime minister on October 21. With her election, the three-month-long political vacuum and conflict between the ruling and opposition parties that followed the devastating election defeat in July have come to an end.

Sanae Takaichi, then Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, is speaking at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo on September 11, 2019. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to Kyodo News, Prime Minister Takaichi secured 237 out of a total of 465 votes, surpassing the majority threshold of 233. It appears that the Liberal Democratic Party, its new coalition partner Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), and several independent lawmakers supported her. Currently, the House of Representatives seats are distributed as follows: the Liberal Democratic Party holds 196 seats and Nippon Ishin holds 35 seats, making a combined total of 231-two seats short of the majority of 233.

In the subsequent House of Councillors (upper house) vote, Takaichi received 123 out of 236 votes, defeating Constitutional Democratic Party leader Yoshihiko Noda, who garnered 44 votes.

With the prime minister’s election concluded, the government spokesperson (Chief Cabinet Secretary) announced the list of cabinet members for the Takaichi administration, and the new cabinet is scheduled to be officially launched later this evening. Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his cabinet resigned en masse earlier in the morning.

According to the Associated Press, “The election came just after Takaichi signed a coalition agreement with her new partner the previous day, fueling speculation that her ruling alliance will shift further to the right.”