Parliament confirms Shigeru Ishiba’s appointment after he won contest to lead ruling LDP party.Japan’s parliament has confirmed Shigeru Ishiba as the new prime minister.
Members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) used their majority to confirm Ishiba’s appointment on Tuesday. The 67-year-old replaces outgoing leader Fumio Kishida.
Following the vote, Ishiba revealed his cabinet, comprising 19 ministers. As well as getting to grips with running the government, the new premier must quickly prepare for snap elections on October 27, which he called on Monday.
Ishiba’s appointment comes after he secured on Friday a narrow victory in a contest to lead the LDP, which has been in power for much of the past 80 years.
The former defence minister beat hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi by 215 votes to 194 in the closest leadership election in almost seven decades.
Ishiba, who has in the past held at least three ministerial posts, had previously failed four times before to become LDP leader.
Ishiba is scheduled to be formally appointed by Japan’s emperor at a ceremony in Tokyo’s Imperial Palace.
Ishiba is applauded after being chosen as the new prime minister, at the Lower House of Parliament in Tokyo, Japan [Issei Kato/Reuters]
Notable appointments in Ishiba’s new cabinet include former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato as finance minister, Gen Nakatani as defence minister, and Takeshi Iwaya as foreign minister.
Only two of the ministers he appointed are women, down from five in the outgoing cabinet. Junko Mihara is set to take charge of children’s policies; Toshiko Abe will oversee education.
Kishida, who took office in …
