Japan’s Sanae Takaichi is poised to make history, with a vote shortly expected to confirm her as the country’s first ever female prime minister
The 64-year-old conservative leader, an admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, is known as Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’
This is her third attempt at becoming prime minister – her scandal hit party, the LDP, has seen four prime ministers in five years
She belongs to the hardline wing of the LDP and is a protege of the late former PM Shinzo Abe
Her many challenges include contending with a sluggish economy, navigating a rocky US-Japan relationship and uniting the ruling party which has been rocked by scandals and internal conflicts
