TOKYO, Oct 1 – Japanese ruling party leader Shigeru Ishiba was elected prime minister in parliament on Tuesday, succeeding Fumio Kishida to take charge of the country at a time of low public confidence in politics, a shaky economy and mounting security threats, Kyodo news agency reported.
Ishiba, who was elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party last week, was endorsed by both the lower and upper house. The confirmation sets the stage for a general election on Oct. 27, despite growing criticism from the opposition bloc about the timing of the poll that delayed Tuesday’s parliamentary vote at the last minute.
Long seen as a maverick, the 67-year-old Ishiba is likely to face a challenging start to his premiership as he seeks to restore voter trust in the scandal-hit ruling party and mend intraparty divisions that have deepened since the LDP leadership election.
Ishiba’s decision to call a snap election met resistance from opposition parties, which described his making of the announcement Monday even before his election as premier as “disrespectful” and “unconstitutional.”
The extraordinary Diet session will run through Oct. 9, the day when Ishiba is expected to dissolve the lower house.
Following the mass resignation of Kishida’s Cabinet, Ishiba is set to form his own Cabinet.
