Key Facts
• October 4: LDP leadership election to include lawmakers, party members, and affiliates.
• Former Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi was first to announce candidacy.
• Sanae Takaichi, former Economic Security Minister, is considering running.
• 2024 Lower House election and 2025 Upper House election saw significant LDP losses.
• LDP lawmakers dropped from 368 in 2024 to 295 in 2025.
• Takaichi lost 9 of her 20 nominators from the previous election.
• 26 of 42 candidates from Takaichi’s faction lost in the 2024 Lower House election.
• 5 of 15 candidates from her faction lost in the 2025 Upper House election.
• Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s faction shrank from 100 members in 2023 to 53 in 2025.
• Takaichi has held talks with Taro Aso but has not secured his support.
Summary
The upcoming October 4 Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election faces challenges as Sanae Takaichi, a potential candidate, struggles to secure the required 20 nominations. Following significant losses in the 2024 Lower House and 2025 Upper House elections, the number of LDP lawmakers has dropped from 368 to 295, complicating nomination efforts. Takaichi, formerly part of Shinzo Abe’s faction, has seen her support base dwindle, with 9 of her previous nominators losing their seats. Despite discussions with senior LDP figure Taro Aso, she has yet to gain his endorsement. The leadership race highlights internal struggles within the LDP amid pressing economic and inflation issues.
