Logo

Logo

Fumio Kishida elected Japan’s new Prime Minister

The outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s Cabinet had resigned en masse, little more than a year after its formation, amid criticism over its lack of ability to curb Covid-19.

Fumio Kishida elected Japan’s new Prime Minister

Japan's PM Fumio Kishida (Photo: IANS)

Fumio Kishida, leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was elected on Monday as the country’s new Prime Minister to succeed Yoshihide Suga.

As the ruling coalition led by the LDP controls both chambers, 64-year-old Kishida secured a majority of votes of both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors during a special Parliament session called to elect a new Prime Minister, reports Xinhua news agency.

Advertisement

Back in September, incumbent Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had announced his decision not to run for the head of LDP, which meant his resignation as head of government.

Advertisement

After naming his new Cabinet in the afternoon, Kishida will be formally inaugurated in a ceremony at the Imperial Palace and hold a press conference in the evening.

According to reports, Toshimitsu Motegi will be retained as foreign minister while Hirokazu Matsuno will become Chief Cabinet Secretary.

“This is the real starting point. I will go forth with a strong sense of determination, with a strong resolution,” he said at the LDP’s headquarters in Tokyo shortly before the session started.

Kishida’s first major test as Prime Minister will be the general election.

He is planning to hold the election on October 31, while campaigning for members of the House of Representatives is set to begin on October 19.

According to local media reports, he plans to hold the vote on November 7.

On Monday morning, Suga’s Cabinet resigned en masse, little more than a year after its formation, amid criticism over its lack of ability to curb Covid-19.

(With IANS inputs)

Advertisement