Japanese lawmakers voted on Monday to approve former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, 64, as the new prime minister.
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chose Fumio Kishida as the new leader last week after Incumbent Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced his decision not to run for the head of LDP, in early September. This also signified his resignation as head of government.
In the new cabinet, Toshimitsu Motegi is set to be retained as foreign minister while Hirokazu Matsuno will become Chief Cabinet Secretary. Kishida plans to dissolve the House of Representatives on October 14. According to Japanese media reports, an election of Japan’s lower house will be convened on October 31.
The new cabinet members under Mr Kishida are due to be announced later today.
“I think it will be a new start in its true sense,” he had earlier told reporters. “I want to take on challenges with a strong will and firm resolve to face the future.”
He has long targeted the prime ministerial role and lost out to Mr Suga in last year’s poll.