Shinzo Abe, a proponent of a robust alliance with the US and a more assertive military, easily won election in parliament to become Japan's youngest postwar prime minister yesterday.
The 52-year-old Abe garnered 339 votes out of 475 counted in the powerful lower house, and 136 ballots out of 240 in the upper house. He later appeared before Emperor Akihito in a brief ceremony at the Imperial Palace.
Abe, Japan's first prime minister born after World War II, stocked his new government with a wide range of Cabinet picks, including Taro Aso, who will keep his post as foreign minister, and Fumio Kyuma, appointed to a second stint as defense chief.
"It's the beginning of the new era under Abe," Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Hidenao Nakagawa told national broadcaster NHK. "I hope those who voted for Abe will join hands to achieve our political goals."
One of Abe's top challenges will be repairing ties with China and South Korea. Beijing and Seoul both reacted cautiously to Abe's election.
He will also have to find ways of maintaining the economy's recovery and grappling with troubles related to the rapidly aging population. His government immediately declared that the prime minister -- not the powerful bureaucracy -- would direct policy.
RSS