Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Komieto party have elected Shigeru Ishiba as the new Prime Minister. Ishiba, 67, won an intra-party leadership race, securing 291 out of 461 votes in the lower house of Parliament.
Ishiba takes over from Fumio Kishida, who resigned along with his Cabinet. Kishida had been in office since October 2021, succeeding former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide.
Having previously served as defense minister, Ishiba was elected LDP president on his fifth attempt. He has announced snap elections for Oct 27, marking the shortest period between a new LDP leader and calling for elections.
The new prime minister faces a challenging time as Japan navigates through the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and other domestic issues. Ishiba’s leadership will be crucial for the country’s future direction and stability.