Sanae Takaichi speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2024. Female hopeful Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba will compete in a runoff in a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership vote on Friday after none of the nine candidates secured a majority in the first round of voting. (Hiro Komae/Pool via Xinhua)
TOKYO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Female hopeful Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba will compete in a runoff in a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership vote on Friday after none of the nine candidates secured a majority in the first round of voting.
The winner of the party poll to succeed incumbent Fumio Kishida, who is not seeking re-election due to mounting criticism over the LDP slush fund scandal, is almost certain to become the country's next prime minister because of the party's majority in parliament. ■
Shigeru Ishiba speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2024. Female hopeful Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba will compete in a runoff in a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership vote on Friday after none of the nine candidates secured a majority in the first round of voting. (Hiro Komae/Pool via Xinhua)
Shigeru Ishiba speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2024. Female hopeful Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba will compete in a runoff in a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership vote on Friday after none of the nine candidates secured a majority in the first round of voting. (Hiro Komae/Pool via Xinhua)
Sanae Takaichi speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2024. Female hopeful Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba will compete in a runoff in a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership vote on Friday after none of the nine candidates secured a majority in the first round of voting. (Hiro Komae/Pool via Xinhua)
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (3nd L) casts his ballot at Japan's Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2024. (Hiro Komae/Pool via Xinhua)
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) presidential election candidate Sanae Takaichi (1st R) casts her ballot at LDP leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2024. (Hiro Komae/Pool via Xinhua)
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) presidential election candidate Shinjiro Koizumi (front R) casts his ballot at LDP leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2024. (Hiro Komae/Pool via Xinhua)
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) presidential election candidate Yoko Kamikawa (front) casts her ballot at LDP leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2024. (Hiro Komae/Pool via Xinhua)