TOKYO, Oct 1 – Japan’s parliament on Tuesday is set to elect new ruling party leader Shigeru Ishiba as the next prime minister, at a time of low public confidence in politics, a shaky economy and mounting security threats, Kyodo News Agency reported.
The nomination of Ishiba as Fumio Kishida’s successor is all but certain, as both houses of parliament are controlled by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito. He is expected to dissolve the House of Representatives soon for a snap election slated for Oct 27.
Ishiba, a former defense chief, narrowly won the LDP presidential election in a runoff on Friday, vowing to revamp the party hit by a political fund scandal. Before Ishiba is elected premier in an extraordinary Diet session, Kishida’s Cabinet will resign en masse.
Once endorsed, Ishiba will form a Cabinet on Tuesday, giving the key posts of foreign and defense ministers to two of his supporters who share similar views on Japan’s global role and responsibilities. Some of those who ran against Ishiba in the LDP’s race are also expected to receive Cabinet positions.
Taking the helm of the LDP in his fifth attempt, Ishiba faces a delicate balancing act as he tries to form a stable government and reduce intraparty friction. Ishiba gave two former premiers Taro Aso and Yoshihide Suga, who still wield influence over LDP members, the symbolic posts of supreme advisor and vice president, respectively.
Ishiba has indicated he will not deviate from the economic policy implemented by Kishida, who focused on boosting wages. The incoming prime minister has emphasized it is vital for Japan to promote robust wage growth as private consumption lacks vigor, saying the Bank of Japan should maintain accommodative monetary conditions.
On the defense front, Ishiba wants to push for the creation of an Asian-style NATO collective security arrangement amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan. He has also voiced eagerness to review a Japan-U.S. agreement to make the bilateral alliance more equal.
As for the Cabinet lineup, former defense chief Takeshi Iwaya will become foreign minister, while Gen Nakatani will once again take the post of defense minister. Both lawmakers played critical roles in electing Ishiba as LDP chief.
