Japan’s newly elected prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, forms Cabinet with emphasis on defense
PBS NewsHourOCT 11 2024
The leader of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party Shigeru Ishiba was designated for another term as prime minister of Japan in a vote in the two houses of the Diet on Monday.
This comes after a runoff vote in the lower House of Representatives — the first since 1994 — against Yoshihiko Noda of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, 221 to 160. Earlier, the House of Councillors voted to re-elect him.
Ishiba retained most of his previous cabinet members, with changes in the posts of justice minister and farm minister as predecessors lost their seats in parliament, and in that of land minister as Tetsuo Sato became the leader of junior coalition partner Komeito.
AWhile the ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the lower house in the snap general election last month, it's only natural that Ishiba stays as prime minister given that the group he leads remains the largest one. In fact, even if his approval ratings are low, most people believe he must remain in office.