DPJ Ozawa Nominated for Prime Minister in Upper House

Tokyo, Sept. 25 (Jiji Press)–The House of Councillors on Tuesday afternoon nominated Ichiro Ozawa, president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, for the nation’s next prime minister to succeed Shinzo Abe.

The Upper House made the choice after Yasuo Fukuda, president of the Liberal Democratic Party, secured nomination from the House of Representatives earlier in the day thanks to the majority strength held by the ruling coalition of the LDP and New Komeito in the more powerful lower chamber of the Diet.

Ozawa won the Upper House nomination through a runoff with Fukuda, after none of the contestants, including Ozawa and Fukuda, won a majority of votes in the first ballot.

In the first ballot, Ozawa collected 117 of 240 votes cast and was the top contender, while Fukuda came second with 106 votes.

In the runoff between them, 133 votes went to Ozawa and 106 to Fukuda. In the second ballot, Ozawa was supported by Upper House members from not only the DPJ but also other opposition parties.

The Upper House is controlled by the opposition camp, after the DPJ scored a huge victory in an election in late July to become the biggest force in the chamber.

As the upper and lower chambers selected different nominees, they will hold a joint committee meeting under a constitutional provision.

But the two chambers are expected to remain at odds because the meeting will be participated by Lower House members who supported Fukuda and Upper House members who voted for Ozawa.

In that case, the Lower House’s nomination will take precedence over that of the Upper House, and Fukuda is thus set to become Japan’s new prime minister. After obtaining the parliamentary nomination, Fukuda is expected to launch his cabinet within Tuesday.END

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