A coalition deal is expected in the Japanese Parliament which would give the country its first female prime minister.
Sanae Takaichi was appointed leader of the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party this month, but failed to win the backing of the party’s usual coalition partner to become PM. The right-wing opposition Ishin party now looks set to support her and she could be appointed tomorrow. Takaichi wants to boost spending and cut taxes, and has criticized rising interest rates; her likely appointment weakened the yen and buoyed Japanese stocks. She is also seeking to revise the country’s pacifist constitution to allow a greater role for its military, and has opposed social policies that include allowing women to keep surnames after marriage.