Japanese Parliament: Ex-Foreign Minister Kishida is the new head of government

Fumio Kishida is the 100th Prime Minister of Japan. The new election by parliament had become necessary after the previous Prime Minister Suga had resigned. Kishida is still presenting his new cabinet today.

The Japanese parliament has elected the leader of the conservative LDP party, Fumio Kishida, as the new head of government. He succeeds Yoshihide Suga, who stepped down last week after only one year in office. “I think it will be a fresh start in the truest sense of the word,” said Kishida before the election. “I want to approach the challenge with a strong will and determination for the future.”

The new government is to be sworn in today. The first parliamentary speech of the new Prime Minister on his future policy is expected on Friday.

Several new cabinet members

Kishida wants to present his cabinet later this day. Among the possible candidates are 13 new faces, but also confidants of the former head of government Shinzo Abe. According to media reports, of the current 20 cabinet members, only Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi will remain in office.

Fumio Kishida was Foreign Minister under Suga’s predecessor Shinzo Abe, who resigned in 2020 for health reasons. Last week he was elected chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party and thus Suga’s successor. In the election as head of government in the lower house, which is dominated by the LDP, he prevailed against Yukio Edano from the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party. He is Japan’s 100th Prime Minister.

Parliamentary election probably this year

After the election as head of government, Kishida is now to lead the LDP into the election campaign for the parliamentary election, which is to take place this year. Japanese media expect the 64-year-old to dissolve the House of Commons on October 14th and elections for October 31st. The ruling party LDP is considered a favorite, but could lose seats in parliament because the population is dissatisfied with the government’s corona policy.

The new Japanese government is facing major challenges after the corona pandemic has severely affected the economy and the foreign policy situation with North Korea and China has worsened. Relations with South Korea have also deteriorated over the past few years due to historical disputes.