Japan Parliament Nominates Takaichi New Prime Minister

Tokyo, Oct. 21 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Diet, or parliament, on Tuesday nominated Sanae Takaichi, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, as new prime minister to succeed Shigeru Ishiba. The House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, and the House of Councillors, the upper chamber, picked her as prime minister at their respective votes. Takaichi is set to launch her cabinet Tuesday evening after the attestation ceremonies for the new prime minister and other members of the cabinet. The LDP is slated to form a coalition government with Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) after Komeito ended its ruling coalition with the LDP earlier this month. Takaichi was elected president of the LDP on Oct. 4, following Ishiba’s decision in early September to step down in the wake of the party’s major setbacks in last year’s Lower House election and this July’s Upper House election. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]