After her electoral triumph on Sunday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has free rein to implement her ultraconservative program, promised an “important change in policy” on Monday.

Published on: 02/09/2026 - 2:55 p.m. Modified on: 02/10/2026 - 08:33

Japan's ultraconservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday February 9 that the Japanese wanted a "major change in policy", the day after legislative elections which saw her party win a two-thirds majority in the lower house of Parliament.

Having become the first woman to lead Japan in October and riding a state of grace ever since, Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house of Parliament at the end of January where her government coalition barely had a majority.

The bet largely won: his Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) won 315 of the 465 seats, according to the official results published Tuesday morning. With its minority coalition partner, they obtained 351 seats.

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Sanae Takaichi, 64, warmly congratulated by American President Donald Trump, therefore obtains a solid mandate to implement her conservative program in the archipelago of 123 million inhabitants over the next four years.

"People have shown understanding and sympathy for our calls for urgent policy change," the leader said Monday at a news conference in Tokyo, saying she was aware of the "very heavy responsibility to make Japan stronger and more prosperous."

This victory marks him in the wake of his mentor Shinzo Abe (Prime Minister in 2006-2007 then 2012-2020), who had deeply marked the country with his nationalist positions and his economic program including in particular budgetary stimulus.

“We will resolutely protect the independence of our nation”

The Asia-Pacific region is, however, attentive, as Sino-Japanese tensions have taken on a new dimension since Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in the event of an attack against Taiwan, of which Beijing claims sovereignty.

China on Monday promised a "resolute response" if "Japanese far-right forces misjudge the situation and act in a reckless and irresponsible manner", as Japan moves towards a more assertive defense policy.

Sanae Takaichi, for her part, said she was open to dialogue with China: “We already have exchanges of views. We will continue these exchanges of views. But we will conduct them in a calm and appropriate manner,” she warned.

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“We will resolutely protect the peace and independence of our nation, our territory, our territorial waters, our airspace, and the lives and security of our citizens,” she added.

Financial markets could also be concerned about the slippage of public finances and the colossal debt if Sanae Takaichi continues to strengthen his fiscal stimulus measures to boost the world's fourth largest economy.

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The leader notably had a recovery plan equivalent to 110 billion euros adopted at the end of 2025, and promised to exempt food products from the 8% consumption tax in order to mitigate the impact on households of stubborn inflation.

Strengthened by the prospect of increased budgetary spending, the Tokyo Stock Exchange jumped more than 5% at the opening, reaching a record level, before closing at +3.9%.

The yen also rose, but the debt market is once again under pressure, a sign of continued concerns.

Congratulations from Donald Trump

Sanae Takaichi deemed the potential of the Japanese-American alliance "limitless", and said that she would confirm with Donald Trump "unshakeable unity" with the United States. The American president wished him on his Truth Social network “great success in the implementation of (his) conservative program, focused on peace through strength”.

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated her on her victory, recalling the “exceptional partnership” and “common values” of the two countries, in a message published on X in Japanese.

Many voters supported Sanae Takaichi "in the hope that the PLD would put an end to economic stagnation", Tetsuo Kotani, a researcher at the Japan Institute of International Affairs, told AFP, while emphasizing the difficulty of curbing inflation and the risk of "inevitable" tax increases to finance a rapidly expanding budget.

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In the standoff between Beijing and Tokyo, the fact that Sanae Takaichi refused to withdraw her statements on Taiwan "contributed to increasing her popularity", confides to AFP Margarita Estévez-Abe, lecturer in political science at Syracuse University.

But since the leader no longer faces elections before 2028, "the best scenario for Japan would be (that she) focuses on improving the relationship with China", she warns.

Although she is the first woman to govern her country, Sanae Takaichi has shown little appetite for feminist demands in a Japanese political world dominated by men. She also displays her conservatism on immigration, having promised to considerably tighten controls.

With AFP

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