Japan's ruling party picks next prime minister
Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba is on track to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida


What happened
Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba beat eight candidates to become leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in a party vote Thursday, putting him on track to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida next Tuesday.
Who said what
Ishiba edged out the more conservative Sanae Takaichi, one of the two women in the historically broad leadership race, 215 to 194 in the runoff vote by LDP lawmakers and rank-and-file members. The "elite power brokers" of the LDP "appeared to take public sentiment into account" when choosing Ishiba, The New York Times said. Polls show he is "popular with the public because of his willingness to criticize his party and its elders," The Washington Post said, "but he is largely disliked among his colleagues for the same reason."
Making his fifth run for party leader, Ishiba pledged to revitalize rural areas to boost the world's fourth-largest economy and "proposed an Asian version of the NATO military alliance and a more equal Japan-U.S. security alliance," The Associated Press said.
What next?
Kishida announced his resignation last month amid low poll numbers tied to high inflation and a string of party finance scandals. Most Japanese voters say they are "eager for new faces and new ideas" in a country where "people over 50 and hereditary politicians have long called the shots," the Post said. Ishiba, 67, is the son of a former Cabinet minister and has been in office since 1986. Still, the Times said, "voters have shown little inclination to vote the party out of power" after 69 years of almost unbroken rule.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
September 1 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Labor Day picnic, branding strategy, and more
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?
The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
Trump and Modi: the end of a beautiful friendship?
In the Spotlight Harsh US tariffs designed to wrest concessions from Delhi have been condemned as 'a new form of imperialism'
-
Why has the State Department scaled down its stance on human rights?
Today's Big Question The Trump administration has curtailed previous criticisms of human rights violations
-
'E-bikes have made our lives more complicated'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
'America is becoming a nation of homebodies'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Eighty years after Hiroshima: how close is nuclear conflict?
Today's Big Question Eight decades on from the first atomic bomb 'we have blundered into a new age of nuclear perils'
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
Trump's strikes on Iran: a 'spectacular success'?
In Depth Military humiliations 'expose the brittleness' of Tehran's ageing regime, but risk reinforcing its commitment to its nuclear program
-
Morales seeks re-election defying constitution and criminal charges
Under the Radar Supporters of former president Evo Morales clash with authorities as political and economic turmoil deepens