Shigeru Ishiba, head of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), won re-election as the nation’s prime minister in a parliamentary vote today.
The 67-year-old Ishiba was first appointed as prime minister in September after the resignation of Fumio Kishida amidst a string of scandals. He defeated opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda in a runoff vote Monday in the Japanese Diet’s Lower House. With the victory, Ishiba became Japan’s 103rd prime minister.
The cabinet headed by Ishiba resigned in a pre-vote formality to allow for the election of a new prime minister. In the first round of balloting in the 465-member House of Representatives, no candidate gained a majority of 233 votes required. Ishiba received 221 votes, whereas Noda secured more than 160. Due to 84 votes going to invalid candidates, Ishiba was declared the winner.
Ishiba’s new cabinet includes Keisuke Suzuki as justice minister, Taku Eto as farm minister, and Hiromasa Nakano as land minister. Nakano will replace Tetsuo Saito, who became the LDP’s chief.
But although Ishiba took the top spot, he failed to secure an absolute majority of votes. He will thus lead a minority government, which could make it more challenging for the ruling bloc to push legislation through. Emboldened by October 27 gains, opposition parties could also push harder for more reforms. For the first time in thirty years, an opposition member will take the gavel in the Lower House Budget Committee.
The opposition is demanding openness over the issue of political funding. They seek to establish an independent panel that can monitor donations from politics. This is after the LDP lost this election largely because it handled political funds.
The government also works on economic measures to help people in fighting the increase in prices. The measures will involve cash handouts for low-income families and subsidies to lower energy costs. A supplementary budget for this fiscal year shall be needed to fund these.
Ishiba says he wants to provide stability with the country battling inflation and threats from China, North Korea, and Russia. Predictions are that he will make only minimal changes in his cabinet, mainly replacing those who lost their seats in the election.
ANI
