Yoshihide Suga, 71, takes several bows after being overwhelmingly elected to the House of Representatives in Japan’s National Diet on Wednesday. A day before the vote, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) overwhelmingly elected Suga as president, making Wednesday’s vote a foregone conclusion. In Japan’s parliamentary system, the leader of the ruling party is usually chosen to be prime minister.
Shortly after his election, Kan introduced his cabinet, and he retained a large number of cabinet members from the time of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, including Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Finance Minister Taro Aso. Nobuo Kishi, Abe’s brother, was appointed Defense Minister to fill the vacancy left by Taro Kono, who moved on to become Minister of Administrative Reform. There are only two women in the new prime minister’s cabinet.
Kan takes over a country whose economy has been depressed by the neo-crown virus (COVID-19) pandemic and whose population is aging rapidly. The neo-crowning virus also forced the highly anticipated Tokyo Olympics to be postponed until 2021. Kan vowed to continue the policies of his predecessor Abe, including his signature “Abenomics” economic plan and his diplomatic initiatives, including maintaining a strong relationship with the United States.
Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving prime minister in Japan’s history, abruptly resigned last month after eight years in office, citing a recurrence of the ulcerative colitis that had plagued him for much of his life. Kan served as chief cabinet secretary in Abe’s administration and was a key ally of Abe’s since his first term as prime minister. Abe’s first term also saw him resign within a year of taking office due to a prolonged illness.
Katsunobu Kato, who served as Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare in Abe’s cabinet, was appointed by Kan as Chief Cabinet Secretary.
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