The Japanese parliament on Tuesday approved the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Sanae Takaichi, as Prime Minister, reports LETA citing AFP.
The 64-year-old conservative politician has become the first woman to hold the position of Prime Minister in Japan's history.
After the Komeito party left the ruling coalition in October, which jeopardized the nomination of Takaichi, the LDP reached an agreement on Monday to form a new coalition with the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin). Although the new coalition still lacks a parliamentary majority, the opposition failed to agree on a single candidate, paving the way for Takaichi's appointment.
Previously, Takaichi served as Minister for Economic Security and has repeatedly criticized China for its military buildup in the Asia-Pacific region. She also takes a tough stance on immigration and tourism.
In her opinion, Japan should "reconsider its policy allowing entry to people from completely different cultures and backgrounds."
In economic matters, Takaichi supports an aggressive monetary stimulus policy and large-scale government spending — in the spirit of the policies of her mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The previous Prime Minister of Japan, Shigeru Ishiba, announced his resignation in early September. He led the LDP and became Prime Minister last fall, but since then the party, which has been in power almost continuously since 1955, has lost its majority in both houses of parliament.
