Japan Lower House Nominates Aso for Prime Minister

Tokyo, Sept. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s House of Representatives nominated Liberal Democratic Party President Taro Aso for the nation’s next prime minister to succeed Yasuo Fukuda at a vote Wednesday afternoon.

Aso, elected LDP president on Monday, collected 337 votes, well over a majority of 479 votes cast, beating Ichiro Ozawa, president of the biggest opposition Democratic Party of Japan, who collected 117 votes.

Aso won the nomination from the powerful Lower House on the back of the overwhelming strength held by his ruling coalition in the chamber.

The vote came after the Fukuda cabinet resigned en masse earlier in the day.

The House of Councillors will select its nominee for prime minister shortly. Ozawa is expected to win nomination as the opposition camp controls the chamber.

If the upper and lower chambers make different choices, their representatives will meet. If they remain divided, the Lower House’s nominee is to be designated prime minister under a constitutional provision.

Aso is thus set to become Japan’s new prime minister and will likely launch his cabinet within Wednesday.END

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