Takaichi elected Japan's first female prime minister

Sanae Takaichi, who was elected Japan's first female prime minister on Tuesday by both houses of the nation's parliament, is expected to bring new life to scandal-hit politics and a struggling economy with a fresh cabinet lineup.

Takaichi, president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, garnered 237 votes against Yoshihiko Noda, head of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, who won 149 votes in the first round of the lower house election.

To win this election, Japanese law requires at least 233 votes in the first round in the 465-seat lower house of the Diet. If no candidate receives the required votes, the candidate with the higher number of votes in the runoff election between the top two candidates from the first round will win.

The House of Councillors, the upper house of the Diet, also held its vote, but no candidate secured a majority in the first round. Takaichi led with 123 votes, followed by Noda with 44. An unprecedented runoff for the upper chamber, the first in 13 years, was triggered between Takaichi and Noda, with Takaichi ultimately winning the race, Xinhua News Agency reported.

By winning in both chambers, Takaichi was officially named Japan's 104th prime minister.

Responding to a related question on Tuesday afternoon at a regular news conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that China noted the result of the vote and considers it Japan's internal affair.

Guo said Beijing hopes that Japan will work with China to uphold the political foundation of bilateral ties and fully advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit.

In Takaichi's new cabinet lineup, which is a bid to build party unity and ensure policy stability, Minoru Kihara will serve as chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi will become internal affairs minister, Shinjiro Koizumi will take the post of defense minister, and Toshimitsu Motegi will return as foreign minister.

Takaichi, 64, an ultraconservative politician, was elected president of the ruling LDP on Oct 4, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba, who stepped down midway through his term to take responsibility for the party's two consecutive losses in national elections.

The defeats left the LDP in the minority in both the lower and upper houses. Ishiba and his cabinet collectively resigned on Tuesday morning to clear road for the election.

Takaichi will now lead a minority government with a new coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party. The JIP's 35 votes in the lower house contributed significantly to her success after the LDP ended its 26-year coalition with Komeito earlier this month.

The new LDP-JIP coalition will "aim to revive Japan" by creating a "self-sustaining nation" in the region, according to their agreement.

Hiroshi Shiratori, a political science professor at Hosei University in Tokyo, said the LDP has kept a "certain distance" from the JIP, unlike its full-fledged coalition with Komeito.

Shiratori said the LDP-Komeito coalition was formed by sending a full lineup of ministers, making it a comprehensive form of alliance, whereas the LDP and JIP adopt an "extra-cabinet" approach.

Contact the writers at houjunjie@chinadaily.com.cn