Japan's Ruling Party Picks Next PM

Nationalist Taro Aso likely to call early election
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 22, 2008 7:43 AM CDT
Japan's Ruling Party Picks Next PM
Newly elected Liberal Democratic Party President Taro Aso, third from right, shakes hands with outgoing party leader and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, third from left, and other election candidates.   (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Japanese nationalist Taro Aso won a convincing ruling-party vote to become the country’s next prime minister, Reuters reports. The Liberal Democrat and former foreign minister will become the third PM this year. Facing a troubled economy and strong opposition in Parliament’s upper house, Aso will likely call an early election. “Only when we have won that election will I have fulfilled my destiny,” he said.

The outspoken 68-year-old, known for gaffes, may keep his predecessor in the cabinet and bring in another rival to achieve party unity, but faces an uphill battle. But “it's going to be a weak government” and the likely election will leave “a weak government as a result,” said a US expert, who noted that Japan would become “more inward-looking.”
(More Japan stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X