"Sanae Takaichi, the pro-stimulus conservative poised to become Japan's first female prime minister, is an energetic nationalist with a soft spot for the hard-nosed politics of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher and the heavy metal music of Iron Maiden. In choosing the former economic security minister as its leader, the Liberal Democratic Party is essentially betting on a swing back to the right to attract the younger voters who have flocked to smaller populist outfits, including the arch-conservative Sanseito party."
"In becoming the LDP's chief, Takaichi has already smashed a glass ceiling in a nation that has only seen male ruling party leaders. Her ascent to the top of the political world will send ripples through the male-dominated society that languishes near the bottom end of global gender equality rankings. But like Thatcher, the former UK prime minister whom she cites as an inspiration, her conservative views place her a long way from the stance of progressive feminism."
Sanae Takaichi is a pro-stimulus conservative and energetic nationalist who admires Margaret Thatcher and Iron Maiden. The Liberal Democratic Party chose her to swing the party right and attract younger voters who have moved to smaller populist parties such as Sanseito. The strategy risks backlash if the LDP is seen reverting to easy-money economic policies and hawkish diplomacy tied to Shinzo Abe without fresh ideas. Takaichi is expected to become premier in a parliamentary vote and has broken the party's male-only leadership pattern. Her conservative stance distances her from progressive feminism; her survival depends on uniting the party, winning public support and restoring the ruling party's fortunes.
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