Despite the predictable significant victory, Takaichi is not expected to enjoy a very long honeymoon with the electorate, since his management of Japan’s public finances, which has a public debt of 200%, one of the highest among developed countries, has generated criticism. Shortly after coming to power, on October 21, after winning the PLD leadership race, Takaichi also raised tension in the region by admitting Japanese intervention if China attacked Taiwanthe island that Beijing sees as a rebel province and which was under Japanese occupation between 1895 and 1945.
The disciple of Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister assassinated in 2022, is a supporter of changing the Japanese Constitution to revise Article 9, which determines the country’s renunciation of military force. And he defends the strengthening of the alliance with the USA, having received President Donald Trump in Tokyo just a week after taking office.
Before the elections, Trump publicly expressed his support for the government coalition, announcing in a post on his Truth Social network that he planned to meet with Takaichi on March 19. The American president added: “It is my honor to give my full and unconditional support to her and what her highly respected coalition stands for. SHE WILL NOT DISAPPOINT THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN!”
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