Japan's ruling LDP selects Shigeru Ishiba as party leader and prime minister

27 Sep 2024, 14:34 by Paul Godfrey · UPI

Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba was elected by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party Friday as its leader and, de facto, the next prime minister.

Ishiba said Friday that security and restoring optimism in the country would be his top priorities after beating out the right-leaning Sanae Takiachi for the LDP presidency -- campaigning to become the country's first female leader -- in a 215-194 vote in a run-off ballot.