Japan: landslide victory for Takaichi
Japan's national conservative ruling party has secured a resounding election victory: under the leadership of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has only been in office since October, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has won more than two-thirds of the seats in the parliamentary election - the first time a single party has achieved such a majority in Japan. Takaichi has promised to upgrade Japan's military to create a counterweight to China in the region.
No reason to be proud
The Frankfurter Rundschau sees cause for criticism:
“Not only because she gave her opponents hardly any time to organise themselves, which can only exacerbate the widespread disillusionment with politics. ... The first woman to hold the office of prime minister should not be proud of the content of her campaign either. She exploited the xenophobic mood in the country to boost her own popularity. She recently claimed that foreigners were kicking the deer that roam freely in her hometown of Nara. The locals were unaware of any such cases, however. ... Takaichi now wants to pursue a 'zero tolerance policy'. Yet foreigners have not earned a reputation for breaking the rules. It's unfortunate when a head of government tells stories she can't substantiate to justify her own agenda.”
Far-right stance could cause tensions
Japan's more assertive attitude also brings challenges, Helsingin Sanomat believes:
“Takaichi's far-right stance, which is evident in her policy on foreigners and an interpretation of history that downplays Japan's wartime past, could also lead to polarisation in Japan. Japan is now strengthening its position as a security player, but the nationalism espoused by Takaichi could complicate the country's activities in the international community. Relations with China in particular are becoming more tense. For historical reasons, South Korea is also not enthusiastic about the return of Japanese militarism, even though relations with Japan are strategically important for the country.”
Effective at drumming up support
The Economist heartily approves of the winner:
“Ms Takaichi has appealed to voters eager for change, or at least the appearance of it. The country's first female prime minister, she has cut a welcome contrast to previous ones, thanks to her middle-class upbringing and plain-spoken style. A former heavy-metal drummer, she has performed confidently on the world stage, including with Donald Trump, the leader of Japan's most important ally. ... Her big-spending pledges have at times caused bond markets to shudder, but tend to appeal to voters. ... The remarkable election result will reshape Japanese politics for years to come.”
A clear message to Beijing
Tim Kanning, Tokyo correspondent for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, sees Takaichi's victory as reaffirmation of her resolute stance towards China:
“With her statements to the effect that Japan could intervene alongside the US if Beijing were to attack democratic Taiwan, she has sparked the most serious dispute there has been between the Asian archrivals in a long time. Xi's tough diplomatic stance was intended to intimidate the Japanese. But with their clear support for Takaichi, they have now sent an unambiguous message to Beijing. The pressure from China has united the country.”
Good news for democracies near and far
Europe can also benefit from Takaichi's victory, La Stampa comments:
“The vote ensures government stability in Japan, gives the prime minister a clear popular mandate and allows the Asia-Pacific area to play a confident role in regional dynamics. This is bad news for Xi Jinping (and Vladimir Putin), good news for Taiwan, encouraging for Asian countries as well as Australia and New Zealand, and fair news for Donald Trump. For Europe, it's an opportunity to be seized. On two levels: the link between Indo-Pacific security and Euro-Atlantic security, and the diversification of technology and trade flows - Italy can benefit from both.”