Sanae Takaichi, a hard-line conservative, was elected as leader by Japan’s embattled governing party, paving the way for her to become prime minister of the coalition government.

She was elected LDP president on Saturday after winning a run-off vote against Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of a former prime minister.

Takaichi is a long-time admirer of Margaret Thatcher, but many female voters do not see her as an advocate for progress.