Fumio Kishida Set to Become New Japan Prime Minister
Posted on 09/29/2021
Japan’s former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida (age 64) has won the governing party leadership election. Fumio Kishida is set to become Japan’s next prime minister, replacing Yoshihide Suga (age 72). Suga is exiting after only 1 year since taking office in September 2020. Kishida is the new leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Kishida beat Taro Kono, the country’s vaccinations minister, in a runoff. Kishida received a total of 257 votes. Kishida’s votes came from 249 parliament members and eight rank-and-file members. Kono won a total of 170 votes in the runoff.
Kishida lost to Suga in the previous LDP leadership race in September 2020.