Politis

Sanae Takaiichi Officially Takes Office as Prime Minister of Japan

Published February 18, 2026, 12:18
Sanae Takaiichi Officially Takes Office as Prime Minister of Japan

Sanae Takaiichi has officially taken office as Prime Minister of Japan, following her party's, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), victory in the parliamentary elections. Takaiichi, the first female Prime Minister of Japan, has prioritized the budget and defense. Her plans include increasing military spending, tightening immigration laws, and adopting measures to support the economy, including exempting food from consumption tax for two years. She also commits to strengthening defense and international cooperation and is willing to consider military intervention in Taiwan in the event of an attack by China, causing tensions with Beijing. Finally, she intends to promote a law for the establishment of a national intelligence agency and begin discussions on anti-espionage legislation.