Shigeru Ishiba casts his ballot at Japan's Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2024. Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba won the LDP leadership election on Friday. Lawmakers from the LDP started voting for a new leader on Friday, with a record nine candidates competing to become the new party chief and virtually the country's next prime minister. (Hiro Komae/Pool via Xinhua)
TOKYO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba won Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election on Friday, virtually ensuring that he will become the country's next prime minister.
As the LDP-led coalition constitutes a majority in both chambers of the parliament in Japan, the new party leader is almost certain to be elected prime minister in the extraordinary Diet session scheduled to be held on Oct. 1, succeeding the incumbent Fumio Kishida. ■
This photo taken on Sept. 27, 2024 shows a scene at Japan's Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan. Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba won the LDP leadership election on Friday.Lawmakers from the LDP started voting for a new leader on Friday, with a record nine candidates competing to become the new party chief and virtually the country's next prime minister. (Hiro Komae/Pool via Xinhua)