Takaichi’s Hopes of Becoming Japan’s PM Hinge on Coalition Talks

Japanese ruling party leader Sanae Takaichi’s chances of becoming prime minister strengthened after progress on policy talks with the Japan Innovation Party, with Monday emerging as a deadline for deciding whether the parties form a new coalition.

The Liberal Democratic Party and the Osaka-based JIP, also known as Ishin, confirmed they are on the same page on major policy items. But one major sticking point remains in place: reforms on political funding rules. That’s the very issue that ended the LDP’s quarter-century coalition with Komeito last week.