Japan elects former defense minister as new prime minister

Mr. Ishiba won 215 votes in the second round of voting compared to 194 votes for Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi. Earlier in the first round of voting, Mr. Ishiba won 154 votes, advancing to the deciding round against Ms. Takaichi, who won 181 votes.

Mr. Ishiba is expected to form a new cabinet after being officially elected as Prime Minister at an extraordinary session of the Japanese Parliament starting on October 1.

"We must believe in the people, speak the truth with courage and sincerity, and work together to make Japan a safe and strong country where everyone can live with smiles again," an emotional Ishiba told lawmakers after the results.

Former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks before the second round of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, September 27. Photo: AP

US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel congratulated Mr. Ishiba in a post on social network X and said he looked forward to working with Mr. Ishiba to strengthen the US-Japan alliance.

Mr Ishiba has long been known as an expert on defense issues, which has put him at or near the top of pre-election polls on which of the nine candidates would be best placed to lead the party.

In the final days of the campaign, Mr. Ishiba tried to win the support of both outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and LDP Vice President Taro Aso. He said he wanted to continue Mr. Kishida's economic policies.

Mr. Ishiba is a 12-term member of the House of Representatives representing Japan's coastal Tottori Prefecture. He first entered parliament in 1986 after a brief career in banking. He served as head of the Defense Agency in 2002 under former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and as defense minister in 2007 under former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

Ngoc Anh (according to Japan Times, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/former-general-of-defense-shigeru-ishiba-was-elected-as-the-new-prime-minister-of-japan-post314183.html