Takaichi secures premiership with Ishin pact, but questions linger

key takeaways

• The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Ishin no Kai concluded a policy cooperation agreement, ensuring that Takaichi Sanae will become prime minister, though the pact fell short of a formal coalition or confidence-and-supply agreement.
• The parties agreed to an ambitious agenda ranging from political reform to defense policy, but the partnership could be strained by inter- and intra-party friction that complicates Takaichi’s ability to govern.