Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to become Japan’s next prime minister after winning the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election on Friday in a runoff vote, defeating economic security minister Sanae Takaichi.
In his fifth presidential bid, Ishiba won 215 of the 409 valid votes cast by LDP lawmakers and rank-and-file members, while Takaichi secured 194. He is a policy expert well-versed in defense, agriculture and regional revitalization. Ishiba, 67, will be named prime minister in parliament next Tuesday, replacing Fumio Kishida. Attention will then shift to when he will call a general election by dissolving the powerful House of Representatives.
Emerging victorious at the party headquarters, where the voting took place, Ishiba called on LDP members to unite after the presidential election that saw a record nine contenders. He said he will devote himself to making Japan a “safer” country.
He faces the challenge of revamping a party stung by a slush funds scandal and restoring voter trust ahead of a possible national election, which might be held by the end of the year.Ishiba’s leadership skills will be put to the test as economic growth remains shaky against a backdrop of rising costs affecting households, while provocative actions by China, North Korea and Russia continue to pose security threats to Japan.
Koyodo News)
The post Ex-defence chief Ishiba set to become new Japan PM appeared first on DailyNews.