Sanae Takaichi Elected As Japan's First Female PM

JAKARTA - conservative politician Sanae Takaichi was elected Japan's first female prime minister on Tuesday, breaking political barriers and preparing the country for a decisive right-hand change.

Takaichi's victory was confirmed after the Liberal Democratic Party he led, which has ruled Japan for most of its postwar history, agreed Monday to form a coalition with the right-handed Japanese Innovation Party, known as Ishin.

Both parties lack two seats to reach a majority in the lower house, meaning he must seduce other opposition groups in order to rule effectively and obtain approval from an additional budget to come.

Takaici won 237 votes in elections in the lower house of parliament consisting of 465 on Tuesday and then won similar votes in the less powerful upper house.

Takaichi's success will depend on his efforts to gain cooperation from more opposition lawmakers, said Tadashi Mori, professor of politics at Aichi Gakuin University.

"The two parties do not have a majority in either assembly and to ensure a stable government and control key parliamentary committees, they need to secure more than half of the seats," he said.

As a follower of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and admirer of Margaret Thatcher from England, Takaichi is expected to re-implement Abe-style government stimulus in his efforts to revive the economy which is burdened with slow growth and price increases.

His victory marks an important moment for a country where men are still in great control.

However, it is also likely to bring sharp changes to the right on issues such as immigration and defense, making it the latest leader to align with a wider right shift in global politics.