On September 27, Japan's ruling party selected former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba as its new leader, a position that is expected to make him Japan's prime minister next week.
Victory in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election is a ticket to the position of Japanese Prime Minister because the party's ruling coalition controls parliament, according to AP.
Mr. Shigeru Ishiba is considered an expert on defense policy. He has proposed an Asian version of the NATO military alliance and a more equal Japan-US security alliance. Mr. Shigeru Ishiba also called for the establishment of a disaster management agency in Japan - one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.
In the race for the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party, Shigeru Ishiba defeated Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Nine politicians, including two women, including Sanae Takaichi, have entered the race to become LDP leader.
According to AP, as soon as the victory was announced, Mr. Ishiba stood up, waved and bowed many times to express his gratitude for the support given to him.
He pledged to make the LDP a fair and open party with active discussion again. "I will devote myself to making Japan a safe and secure country where everyone can live happily," he said.
On October 1, incumbent Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his cabinet ministers are expected to resign. Mr. Ishiba, after being officially elected in a parliamentary vote, will form a new cabinet on the same day.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida congratulated Mr Ishiba on his victory, stressing that September 27 marked the first step of a new LDP. "The LDP will be reborn and will meet the people's expectations and achieve results," he said. The current Japanese Prime Minister affirmed that "he will support the new government with all his strength."
