Japan's Takaichi picks ex-premier Aso as party vice president

7/10/2025 12:06

Sanae Takaichi, who is expected to become Japan's next prime minister, chose former premier and party heavyweight Taro Aso on Tuesday as vice president of her ruling party.



Takaichi also chose former finance minister Shunichi Suzuki as secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a job that wields huge influence in party affairs, in a line-up of key party posts announced on Tuesday.



The ruling party picked fiscal and monetary dove Takaichi as its head on Saturday, putting her on course to become Japan's first female prime minister.



Japan's share prices surged and the yen slumped this week on market expectations Takaichi will deploy big fiscal stimulus and pressure the central bank to go slow in raising interest rates.