Takaichi gearing up for LDP presidential election this autumn

Economic security minister Sanae Takaichi is stepping up her activities with an eye toward the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election expected to be held this September.

The 63-year-old plans to hold a string of events around the country in July and August, as well as publish a book on Monday, the second anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who backed Takaichi in the previous LDP leadership race in 2021.

“I don’t have anything to say,” Takaichi told reporters with a smile when asked about whether she will run in the upcoming election, during a news conference held on Friday.

In the 2021 election, Takaichi, receiving Abe’s full support, garnered 114 votes in the first round of voting done by lawmakers, the second highest out of the four candidates, despite it being her first LDP presidential bid.

While current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida went on to eventually win the election to become LDP chief, informed sources said that since then, Takaichi has repeatedly said that she will run in the party’s next leadership race.

In November last year, Takaichi launched a study group, effectively kicking off her preparations to run for party president.

On Monday, which marks exactly two years since Abe was fatally shot while delivering a stump speech in western Japan in 2022, Takaichi will publish her book on economic security, which is something that she has worked on over the past two years as a member of Kishida’s Cabinet.

She is set to deliver a speech in Tokyo on July 16, followed by ones in Miyagi Prefecture on July 21, Okinawa Prefecture on July 28 and in Hyogo Prefecture on Aug. 3.

A veteran lawmaker close to Takaichi noted these activities show her readiness to run in the race. “She’s up for it. That’s for sure,” the lawmaker said.

Still, many within the LDP believe that Takaichi put up a good fight in the previous election thanks to Abe’s backing. Back then, Abe urged members of the party’s largest faction to support Takaichi, but she would have to fight without such strong backing this time around.

“I don’t think she will garner much support this time,” a mid-ranking party member said.

By the time this year’s 150-day ordinary session of the parliament ended on June 23, Takaichi’s group hosted 11 study sessions, with only about a dozen or so lawmakers participating each time.

As Takaichi is an incumbent Cabinet member, some people close to her have voiced concerns that she may come under heavy criticism if she is perceived as having “revolted” against Kishida by running for LDP president.

This is apparently a source of worry for Takaichi herself, who is believed to be fretting about whether she can secure enough supporters in her possible LDP presidential bid. Recommendations from at least 20 party lawmakers are needed to run in an LDP presidential election.

After a media report said Sunday that Takaichi is planning to throw her hat in the ring, she took to X, formerly Twitter, to say that such a report was published in an attempt to “crush” her. On Tuesday, Takaichi told a news conference, “My duties as a minister have been affected (by the report) and I will not answer any more questions.”