Takaichi Favored to Lead LDP, Koizumi Strong Among Party Supporters

A recent poll conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun indicated that Sanae Takaichi, a former minister responsible for economic security, was considered the most suitable candidate to succeed the current president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The survey focused on the eight individuals who had previously contested the LDP presidential election in September 2024, excluding the incumbent president, Shigeru Ishiba, who had announced his intention to resign earlier in the month.

The poll, carried out over the weekend, revealed that 29% of respondents favored Takaichi. Shinjiro Koizumi, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, secured the second position with 25% of the votes. Toshimitsu Motegi, a former LDP Secretary General, and Taro Kono, a former digital minister, tied for third place, each garnering 7% support. Following them were Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi with 6% and Takayuki Kobayashi, another former minister in charge of economic security, with 3%. A notable 14% of those surveyed expressed no particular preference.

Within the LDP's supporter base, the results shifted. Koizumi emerged as the leading choice, receiving 33% of the votes, while Takaichi trailed with 28%. Kono maintained his third-place position with 9%, followed by Hayashi with 8%, Motegi with 6%, and Kobayashi with 5%. A small percentage, 4%, of LDP supporters did not express a preference.

Respondents were also asked to provide reasons for their choices, allowing for multiple answers. Among those who supported Takaichi, 85% cited her commitment to reform, 74% expressed confidence in her policies, and 73% highlighted her vision for the nation. For Koizumi supporters, the primary reasons were his will to make reforms (89%), his ability to communicate effectively (88%), and his perceived trustworthiness (84%).

The survey methodology involved calling a combination of landlines and mobile phone numbers selected randomly. A total of 1,043 valid responses were collected from eligible voters aged 18 or older.