In Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected Shigeru Ishiba as its president on Friday, September 27. Given the overwhelming majority held by the party in both Houses of Parliament, the success automatically offers him the head of government. His inauguration is scheduled for October 1.

Ishiba succeeds the unpopular Fumio Kishida, in office since 2021 and who chose not to run for re-election as head of the PLD, the party in power almost without interruption since 1955. "I've been working in defense for a long time. I will protect the country. And I will protect the people. I will not fail to create a Japan where everyone can enjoy happiness and security," said the winner.

The parliamentarian from Tottori (southwest Japan), married with two daughters, was elected from nine candidates, including Shinjiro Koizumi, son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi (2001-2006). Victory then came in the second round of an election dubbed "The match" by the LDP, in which 1.1 million party members and 368 members of parliament cast their votes in a clever game of vote weighting.

In the second round, Ishiba dominated Sanae Takaichi, by 215 votes to 194. Defeated, Takaichi nevertheless called on the LDP to "work together to create an archipelago where people can live in security, enjoy social protection, receive quality education."

In terms of foreign and security policy, Ishiba is expected to follow the same line as his predecessor and pursue a policy marked by the strengthening of Japanese defense and closer ties with the US and South Korea. On the economic front, Ishiba promises "large-scale regional development policies as a catalyst for Japan's economy." This program is eagerly awaited by the Japanese, who are confronted with sustained inflation, which is causing a fall in the average real wage and fueling a feeling of impoverishment, exacerbated by the weakening of the yen against the dollar and the euro.

Born on February 4, 1957, a law graduate of the prestigious Keio University and a member of Japan's small Protestant community, Ishiba began his career at Mitsui Bank, before entering politics. In 1981, on the death of Jiro Ishiba, the father of the new leader of the LDP, former prime minister Kakuei Tanaka (1918-1993) urged him to succeed the latter, who was elected from Tottori. He won his first term of office in 1986, becoming the youngest member of the Lower House. He was re-elected 11 times.

Initially interested in agriculture and local development, Ishiba turned to defense during the first Gulf War (1990-1991). The model-building enthusiast went on to forge a reputation as a gunji otaku, a military enthusiast. In 2002, his knowledge of security issues led him to head what was then the Defense Agency. In 2007, he was awarded the portfolio of the new Ministry of Defense.

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