key takeaways
- Ishiba Shigeru engineered a comeback victory in the runoff to win the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and will succeed Kishida Fumio as prime minister.
- Takaichi Sanae placed first in the first round, and came close to winning outright, presenting a challenge for Ishiba as he tries to assert control over the LDP.
- In the near term, Ishiba will be focused on stabilizing his new government, including a likely snap election; managing a crowded diplomatic agenda; and continuing the Kishida government’s incomes and growth policies.
Japan Foresight 