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| Reuters |
Former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike beat closest opponent Hiroya Masuda by more than a million ballots. The 64-year-old angered the Tokyo branch of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party by not getting its approval before announcing her candidacy for city governor. She opted to run as an independent and LDP instead drafted Masuda, 64.
"I am in awe to see that when individual votes becomes one, it can turn into a huge wave," Koike told reporters at her campaign office on Monday after clinching her victory.
Her predecessor resigned on June 15 after admitting he used thousands in taxpayer money to fund family trips and artwork.
Koike joins the swelling ranks of women who have recently been elected or chosen to run countries and major cities.
On June 19, Virginia Raggi was elected Rome's first female mayor in its almost 3,000-year history, giving Italy's anti-establishment Five Star Movement its biggest victory to date.
Who runs the world>>Girls. maybe Hillary is next!
