Japan prepares to inaugurate Fumio Kishida as new prime minister
Tokyo, Oct 3 (EFE).- Preparations were underway on Sunday for the inauguration of Fumio Kishida as the new prime minister of Japan, who will lead the party in the November general election.
Kishida, a former foreign minister, will be officially appointed as prime minister Monday in a parliamentary session as the LDP has a comfortable majority in both houses.
He won the election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Wednesday, defeating Taro Kono – the minister in charge of the coronavirus vaccine roll-out in the cabinet of outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Kyodo news agency reported that the new premier’s first test would be a general election in November.
Kishida is likely to dissolve parliament on Oct.14, sources said, to pave the way for the election on Nov.7, with the electoral campaign starting on Oct.26.
However, there is a possibility he would delay the vote for a week to Nov.14 because he is to attend the G20 leaders’ summit in Rome on Oct.30 and 31, according to the sources.
The PLD will enter the fray as the favorites since the Japanese opposition struggles to offer a front capable of breaking the hegemony of the conservatives.
Among Kishida’s plans is to create a new Economic Security portfolio, a move designed to protect the intellectual property of Japanese technologies from China.
The sources pointed out that Kishida also intended to create a new post for adviser for the prime minister.
He is likely to finish outlining his cabinet on Sunday for the Monday oath ceremony. EFE
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