DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY, If elected, Takaichi will face a host of issues, including an ageing population and growing unease about immigration.Sanae Takaichi has been elected to lead Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and is therefore likely to become the next prime minister, the first woman to lead the nation in its history.Takaichi beat Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in a run-off vote on Saturday after none of the five candidates won a majority in the first round of voting.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listA former economic security minister, Takaichi, 64, skews towards the right-wing flank of the LDP.A vote in parliament to choose the next prime minister is expected to be held on October 15.Takaichi is expected to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba since the LDP remains the largest party in parliament. However, following the recent elections, the LDP-led coalition no longer holds majorities in either chamber and will require cooperation from opposition lawmakers to govern effectively.If elected prime minister, Takaichi will face a host of complex issues, including an ageing population, geopolitical upheaval, a faltering economy and growing unease about immigration.First, however, she will have to ensure that the LDP, which has governed almost nonstop since 1955, can rally voters again.“The LDP must regain trust, and an overhaul is needed for us to start afresh,” Koizumi had said in the campaign, calling the state of the party a “crisis”.One party on the up is Sanseito, which echoes other populist movements in calling immigration a “silent invasion” and blames newcomers for a host of ills.Takaichi …
