Shigeru Ishiba has been elected as the new leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, making him set to become the next prime minister of the country. Ishiba, a former defense minister, will be officially named as prime minister on Tuesday when the current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his cabinet resign. Ishiba will face challenges such as rising prices, demographic issues in a shrinking and aging population, labor problems, and navigating a complex security environment in the Asia-Pacific region with China’s growing influence and North Korea’s threat of missile launches and nuclear tests.
The leadership transition was triggered by corruption scandals that caused Kishida’s approval ratings to plummet, leading to a record nine lawmakers, including two women, running for party leader. The election came down to Ishiba and economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, with Ishiba ultimately winning in a runoff. This will be Ishiba’s fifth time running for party leader, and he aims to regain public trust ahead of a general election scheduled for next year. The LDP, which has ruled Japan since the end of World War II, is seeking to revitalize its image with a fresh face in leadership.
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