Japan's fiscal dove Takaichi joins race for leadership of ruling party

FILE PHOTO: Sanae Takaichi speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. Hiro Komae/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's veteran lawmaker and fiscal dove Sanae Takaichi said on Thursday she would run in the ruling party's leadership ballot on October 4 to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Takaichi, who hopes to become Japan's first female prime minister, is seen as one of the frontrunners, along with Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.