Former Japanese defense minister chosen by the ruling party to be the next prime minister

Former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba won the presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in his fifth and final attempt, beating Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi in the runoff.

He is set to become the country’s next prime minister, with his duties handed over to Fumio Kishida after almost exactly three years in power.

“We must believe in the people, speak the truth with courage and sincerity, and work together to make Japan a safe country where everyone can live with a smile again,” Ishiba told lawmakers after the results were announced on Friday.

The rush to find Kishida’s successor began in August, when he announced his intention to resign after a series of scandals that pushed the LDP’s ratings to historic lows.

Ishiba received 215 votes – 189 from LDP legislators and 26 from local chapters – compared to 194 votes for Ms. Takaichi, who, had she won, would have become the first female prime minister in Japan’s history.

Ishiba, 67, was also previously party secretary general. He will be formally confirmed as prime minister next week after a vote in parliament.

“We must believe in people and speak the truth with courage and sincerity,” Ishiba said.

The 67-year-old, unaffiliated with any party faction, previously ran unsuccessfully for LDP president four times – in 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2020.

Asahi Shimbun She noted that Mr. Ishiba faces the urgent task of revitalizing the LDP’s image, which has suffered from a political financing scandal linked to party factions. The polls in the country are scheduled to take place at the end of October 2025, although there has been speculation that the new LDP leader may order early elections earlier.

In his victory speech, Ishiba praised Kishida for making “the decision to regain the trust of citizens so that the LDP can be reborn.”

“We must respond to his decision as one,” he said.

During his campaign, Ishiba proposed the creation of an “Asian NATO,” a controversial idea that could provoke Beijing and a senior U.S. official described as premature.

On Tuesday, Kishida and his cabinet ministers will resign from their posts to make way for Ishiba.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel congratulated Mr. Ishiba in a post on X and said he looked forward to working with him to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian expressed hope that Japan under the new LDP leadership would adopt an “objective and correct” understanding of its neighbor. Relations between Japan and China deteriorated under Kishida as his government adopted a much stronger pro-American stance.

South Korea’s foreign ministry also said it looked forward to working with Ishiba and his cabinet ministers. “South Korea and Japan are our closest neighbors and partners who share the values ​​of freedom, human rights and the rule of law and pursue common interests in security, the economy and the global agenda,” the ministry said.

“This government looks forward to our two countries actively working together to improve future-oriented relations.”

Additional agency reports