Kishida Fumio wins LDP presidential election, to become Japan's next PM

Tokyo, Sept 29: Fumio Kishida is set to become Japan’s prime minister after the former foreign minister defeated Taro Kono, to win the leadership of the country’s ruling party.

 

Four candidates, namely Taro Kono, Kishida Fumio, Sanae Takaichi, and Seiko Noda, entered the race for the presidential election of LDP. As the LDP-led coalition constitutes a majority in both chambers of the parliament in Japan, the new party president is almost certain to be elected prime minister in the extraordinary diet session scheduled to be held on October 4, succeeding the incumbent Yoshihide Suga.

 

 

He will be taking in charge of the world’s third-largest economy as it seeks to rebound from a virus emergency. The self-effacing former banker from Hiroshima has promised tens of trillions of yen in spending and pledged to steer away from "neoliberal" economic policies in a bid to bolster the middle class.

 

 

The LDP, which has been in power for all but about four years since 1955, will use its majority in parliament to formally install him as premier in a special session.

 

 

On the other hand, Suga, who abandoned a plan to run for re-election after his support rates plummeted to record lows amid criticism of his handling of the pandemic, was seen as a liability for his party heading into the election expected next month.