Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba Will Become Japan's New PM

JAKARTA - Former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba won the election for the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to become the 101st Japanese Prime Minister.

Shigeru Ishiba, 67, defeated Economy Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and will replace Fumio Kishida, the incumbent Prime Minister who is about to step down.

Kishida announced his resignation last August.

The election for the leadership of the LDP ruling party continues into the second round after none of the nine candidates won the majority of the votes in the first election stage.

Reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Friday, September 27, Takaichi is one of two female candidates in this election, along with Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko.

Japan has never had a female prime minister.

LDP has a majority seat in Japan's Diet or parliament, along with its junior partner, the Komeito Party.