Officially Become Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida Called To Retain Minister Of Foreign Affairs And Minister Of Defense

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. (Wikimedia Commons/外務省)

JAKARTA - Japan's parliament on Monday elected Fumio Kishida as its next prime minister, with a new leader expected to announce a cabinet that will include several old and new faces.

Politician descended from Hiroshima's political family, Kishida outperformed his party mate and popular Vaccine Minister Taro Kono, to win the election for the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

He easily won Monday's vote in the lower house of parliament, where the ruling LDP coalition holds the majority, picking up 311 votes to 124 for opposition leader Yukio Edano.

"This chamber appoints Mr. Fumio Kishida as prime minister", lower house speaker Tadamori Oshima said after the vote, citing CNA, October 4.

The upper house will also, vote but the lower house retains control of the decision. Shortly thereafter, the upper house also approved him as prime minister in a vote.

Kishida bowed to his fellow MPs after the vote but did not immediately speak. Previously, he told reporters that he was ready for the top job.

"I think this will be a new beginning in a true sense. I want to face challenges with a strong will and strong determination to face the future", he said.

Kishida is widely considered a safe choice, has the support of his own faction within the LDP, and is not expected to deviate significantly from existing government policies.

His election came after former prime minister Yoshihide Suga, who submitted his resignation early Monday, announced he would not be running for LDP leader after just one year in office.

Fumio Kishida is due to unveil his new cabinet soon, but details reported in local media suggest he will keep several ministers in the main portfolio.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi will keep their jobs, local media reported.

Motegi is a Harvard-educated political veteran who took the lead in negotiating major trade deals, while Kishi is the brother of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

The financial portfolio will go to Shunichi Suzuki, who succeeds his own brother-in-law Taro Aso.

Suzuki is also a veteran politician and son of a former prime minister. He has served in previous administrations, holding the posts of minister of the Olympics and minister of the environment.

In addition, the cabinet will reportedly include three women, among them contestant Seiko Noda, who will be the minister in charge of dealing with Japan's declining birthrate.

Meanwhile, the posts of minister of vaccines and minister of digital will also be held by women, with several Cabinet members appointed to their first ministerial posts.

"Kishida's cabinet aims to balance the consideration given to major factions, young lawmakers, and neighboring countries", Junichi Makino, SMBC Nikko's chief securities economist, wrote in a note.

"This is the kind of Cabinet formation that mirrors Kishida, who works not to make enemies".

He faced many challenges, from trying to steer a post-pandemic economic recovery to confronting the military threat posed by North Korea and China. He will also lead the LDP in the general election that should take place in November.

Local media reported on Monday that Kishida was now expected to hold the vote on October 31, a few weeks earlier than expected.

The ruling party and its coalition parties are widely expected to retain power but could be vulnerable to losing some seats as the public is unhappy with the government's response to the Coronavirus.

Previously, the Suga Government saw its approval rating plummet as it struggled to contain a wave of infections, including a record spike in the virus during the summer when the Olympics were being held.

Kishida's leadership campaign stressed his plans to correct the government's missteps on the pandemic, including a pledge to release new economic stimulus.