Can Japan's first female PM pull off a snap-election win?
Can Japan's first female PM pull off a snap-election win?
Sanae Takaichi bets on personal popularity to secure a mandate as inflation bites and a China row tests Japan ahead of a snap election.
Japan heads to the polls this Sunday for its second general election in as many years, a snap vote that has caught both the ruling party and voters off guard. Sanae Takaichi, who many see as Japan's first female prime minister in practice, is betting on a personal popularity surge to deliver a clear mandate for the long-ruling but deeply unpopular Liberal Democratic Party.
Her public profile has risen quickly, framed by a relentless work ethic and high-visibility visits from world leaders. She even had a memorable moment aboard the USS George Washington with Donald Trump, who publicly praised her leadership and endorsed her just days before the vote.
Yet voters aren't only swayed by charisma. Inflation has stubbornly lingered, and a diplomatic row with China adds to concerns about the economy and security. Analysts say her approval ratings in major polls have been notably higher than those of her predecessors, boosting the sense that an election could be winnable for the LDP.
To shore up support, the LDP has formed a new partnership with the Japan Innovation Party, possibly giving them a path to a comfortable majority in the 465-seat lower chamber.
Behind the numbers, the election is a test of whether Takaichi can translate personal popularity into a broad mandate to steer economic and foreign policy for the coming years.
With the clock ticking to polling day, voters will be weighing inflation, China ties, and the party's track record on domestic issues, as the political drama unfolds.
