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Japanese PM Takaichi comes out on top
Oped, Taniguchi Tomohiko, Published on 11/02/2026
» Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has just scored an unprecedented victory in the country's general election. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which she leads, won 316 seats in the 465-member House of Representatives (the Diet's lower house), up sharply from 198. The combined strength of two parties that had merged hastily -- despite their fundamentally opposing platforms -- in an effort to bring Ms Takaichi down fell from 167 seats to just 49. The LDP, which celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, has never looked more robust.
Shigeru Ishiba's premiership could be short
News, Taniguchi Tomohiko, Published on 02/10/2024
» After a 15-day election campaign, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has elected Shigeru Ishiba as its president. Since the ruling party holds a majority in the National Diet (parliament), Mr Ishiba will be Japan's next prime minister. For the 67-year-old Mr Ishiba, long a leading rival of the late Shinzo Abe, ascending to the post is the realisation of a long-held dream. But Mr Ishiba's political star will likely soon fall.