Fifth time lucky for Japan’s new prime minister

Tokyo: The elite power brokers of Japan’s governing party appeared to have taken public sentiment into account when they chose Shigeru Ishiba, 67, to become the country’s next prime minister.

Ishiba, a former defence minister who has long been popular with rank-and-file members of the Liberal Democratic Party but less favoured by MPs, had run for the party leadership four times before finally attaining victory.

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan’s ruling party, will take over on Tuesday.Credit: AP

In a run-off with Sanae Takaichi, Ishiba, who is known for his plainspoken opinions and keen interest in military equipment, defeated Takaichi 215-194 in voting at the party’s headquarters in Tokyo. He is assured of becoming the next prime minister on Tuesday replacing Fumio Kishida because of the party’s majority in parliament.

Kishida announced his resignation in August after months of low approval ratings related to public dissatisfaction with inflation and his handling of a series of political finance scandals.

Hinting at the public’s loss of trust in the party, Ishiba said in his acceptance speech that he wanted to return to an LDP “that can hold free and open discussions,” and would be “fair and impartial” and “humble”.

Party member Sanae Takaichi speaks before her loss in the run-off vote.Credit: Getty Images

While past leadership contests have been staid affairs with a sense of preordination, Friday’s party election held genuine drama. Takaichi, who would have been the country’s first female prime minister, pulled ahead in the first round of voting, in which both MPs and rank-and-file dues-paying members were represented. But Ishiba, a somewhat anti-establishment candidate who has criticised previous administrations, was able to round up the MPs needed to clinch the final vote.

It was the most hotly contested race in years, with a total of nine candidates vying for the leadership.

The Liberal Democratic Party has governed Japan for all but four years since 1955. Despite dissatisfaction over inflation, a slowing economy, labour shortages and the growing pressures of an ageing population, voters have shown little inclination it the party out of power. In policy pronouncements, the candidates did not offer hugely different visions of how they would govern.

Analysts said that because Takaichi, a right-leaning disciple of slain former prime minister Shinzo Abe, might have driven more independent voters to the opposition, Ishiba appeared a safer choice to MPs worried about keeping their jobs in any coming general election. Ishiba declined to say when he might call such an election.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.