Kishida Elected President of Japan's Ruling LDP

Tokyo, Sept. 29 (Jiji Press)--Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida as its new president on Wednesday, effectively allowing him to become the country's next prime minister due to the party's parliamentary strength. Kishida, 64, beat regulatory reform minister Taro Kono, 58, in a runoff in the LDP's presidential election to pick the successor to Yoshihide Suga, the current prime minister. Kishida's term as LDP president will run through September 2024. He is almost certain to be elected prime minister in parliament on Monday. "The presidential race has ended," Kishida told LDP lawmakers in a meeting at a Tokyo hotel after the election. "We must all come together as a party to fight" national elections, he said. Japan will hold a general election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, this autumn and an election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber, in summer next year. Characterizing the COVID-19 pandemic as a "national crisis," Kishida called on the LDP to continue to do all it can to contain it. He also promised to work out economic measures worth tens of trillions of yen by the end of this year. Kishida plans to launch a new executive team for the LDP on Friday. He plans to appoint party tax chief Akira Amari, internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi and education minister Koichi Hagiuda to senior posts. The election went to the runoff after none of the four candidates, also including Takaichi, 60, and LDP Executive Acting Secretary-General Seiko Noda, 61, obtained a majority of votes in the first round. The new LDP leader said he will give posts to Kono, Takaichi and Noda. Kishida said he will consider an appropriate timing to dissolve the Lower House for a snap election, aiming to win a majority of seats as the ruling bloc. In the runoff round, Kishida won 257 votes, outpacing Kono's 170 votes. "The results are out, so we have to come together and start moving as one party," Kono said following his defeat. "I want to try again if I get the chance." Takaichi expressed satisfaction with placing third. Noda said that her run for the leadership, which she had long sought, was "a big step forward." END