Hoping to be first female premier
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A former defense minister announced that she would try to become Japan’s first female prime minister.
Yuriko Koike vowed to push ahead with economic reforms started by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, under whom she also was environment minister.
Koike announced at the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that she would run for the party’s presidency, also a first. She is one of seven lawmakers intending to compete in the Sept. 22 vote.
The winner is all but guaranteed to be elected in parliament to succeed Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
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