Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is re-elected the nation’s prime minister. (Jiji Press)
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi moved swiftly to reinforce political stability on Wednesday, unveiling her second Cabinet just hours after securing a fresh mandate—this time keeping every minister from her initial lineup.
Takaichi’s first Cabinet formally resigned en masse earlier in the day, a procedural step that cleared the way for her reappointment. She was then re-elected outright by the House of Representatives, the powerful lower chamber of the National Diet, and later prevailed in a runoff vote in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber, cementing her hold on power.
Following her re-election, Takaichi met with Hirofumi Yoshimura, leader of the Japan Innovation Party, a coalition partner of her Liberal Democratic Party. She then reappointed all Cabinet members, signaling a clear preference for continuity as her administration enters its next phase. The new Cabinet was formally launched after customary ceremonies at the Imperial Palace.
The move follows the LDP’s sweeping victory in the February 8 general election, which prompted the convening of a 150-day special session of the Diet on the same day. During the session, former Justice Minister Eisuke Mori of the LDP was elected speaker of the lower house, while Keiichi Ishii of the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance was chosen as vice speaker.
Takaichi, who made history last October as Japan’s first female prime minister, enters her renewed term with a commanding parliamentary majority. In the general election, the LDP secured more than two-thirds of the 465 seats in the House of Representatives, giving her government a strong mandate to push ahead with its legislative agenda.