TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s governing party on Friday picked former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba as its leader, setting him up to become prime minister next week.
The party leadership is a ticket to the top job because the Liberal Democratic Party’s governing coalition controls parliament.
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TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s governing party on Friday picked former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba as its leader, setting him up to become prime minister next week.
Shigeru Ishiba, center, waves as he is elected as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after the party's leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Shigeru Ishiba, right, with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, and other candidates, celebrates after Ishiba was elected as new head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party during its leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba, center, celebrates after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at the party headquarters in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
TV sets show a news proram reporting that Shigeru Ishiba is elected as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, at an electronic shop in Urayasu, near Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Shigeru Ishiba acknowledges after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) during the party's leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba, center, waves as he is elected as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after the party's leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Shigeru Ishiba, center, celebrates after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) during the party's leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba, center, waves as he is elected as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after the party's leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Sanae Takaichi speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at the party headquarters in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at the party headquarters in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Officials show the result of the first voting to Election Commission during the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election at the party headquarters Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
One of candidates, Shinjiro Koizumi, right, casts his ballot at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election at the party headquarters, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba acknowledges after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at the party headquarters in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Sanae Takaichi speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at the party headquarters in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Officials count ballots during the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election at the party headquarters Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Party members cast their ballots at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Officials count ballots during the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election at the LDP headquarters Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Officials count ballots during the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election at the LDP headquarters Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
One of candidates Taro Kono, center, casts his ballot at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
One of candidates, Toshimitsu Motegi, right, casts his ballot at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
One of candidates, Yoshimasa Hayashi, center, casts his ballot at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center, casts his ballot at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Japan's Foreign Minister and one of the candidates Yoko Kamikawa casts her ballot at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
One of candidates Shigeru Ishiba casts his ballot at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
FILE - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida listens at the Quad leaders summit at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Del., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
FILE - Candidates for Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) presidential election pose for a photo before a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, on Sept. 14, 2024. From left are Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, Digital Minister Taro Kono, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi. (Takashi Aoyama/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Considered a defense policy expert, Ishiba secured a come-from-behind win against Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative who hoped to become the country’s first female prime minister.
The LDP, which has enjoyed nearly unbroken rule since World War II, may have seen Ishiba's more centrist views as crucial in pushing back challenges by the liberal-leaning opposition and winning voter support as the party reels from corruption scandals that drove down outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's popularity.
After his victory was announced, Ishiba stood up, waved and bowed repeatedly. “I will devote all my body and soul to making Japan a safe and secure country where everyone can live smiling,” he told lawmakers.
Ishiba is expected to call a general election to try to capitalize on his win, but it is unclear when.
Ishiba has proposed an Asian version of the NATO military alliance and a more equal Japan-U.S. security alliance, including having Japanese Self Defense Force bases in the United States. He is a supporter of Taiwan’ s democracy. He also advocates the establishment of a disaster management agency in one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.
Ishiba, first elected to parliament in 1986, has served as defense minister, agriculture minister and in other key Cabinet posts, and was LDP secretary general under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
But he has long been viewed with wariness by powerful conservatives in his party. The 67-year-old former banker was running in the party leadership race for a fifth time and had said this was going to be his “final battle.”
A hawk on defense issues, Ishiba has riled some party leaders by supporting measures to improve gaps between men and women and legalizing same-sex marriage.
A record nine lawmakers, including two women, ran in the vote decided by LDP members of parliament and about 1 million dues-paying party members. That’s only 1% of the country’s eligible voters.
Some experts believe that party turmoil could mean that Japan will return to an era similar to the early 2000s, which saw “revolving door” leadership changes and political instability.
A succession of short-lived governments hurts Japanese prime ministers' ability to set up long-term policy goals or develop trusted relations with other leaders.
On Tuesday, Kishida and his Cabinet ministers will resign. Ishiba, after being formally elected in a parliamentary vote, will then form a new Cabinet later in the day.
Kishida congratulated Ishiba on his victory and said his election is the first step for a new LDP.
“The LDP will be reborn, and will live up to the people's expectations and achieve results,” he said. As Japan faces security tensions in the region and elsewhere, Japan must step up its own defense power and its ties with the United States, he said.
The main opposition group, the liberal-leaning Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, has struggled to build momentum despite the LDP scandals. Experts say its newly elected leader, centrist former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, is pushing a conservative shift for the party to attract swing voters.
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A pedestrian takes a copie of an extra edition of the Yomiuri newspaper reporting on Shigeru Ishiba becoming the winner of the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Shigeru Ishiba, center, waves as he is elected as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after the party's leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Shigeru Ishiba, right, with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, and other candidates, celebrates after Ishiba was elected as new head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party during its leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba, center, celebrates after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at the party headquarters in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
TV sets show a news proram reporting that Shigeru Ishiba is elected as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, at an electronic shop in Urayasu, near Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Shigeru Ishiba acknowledges after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) during the party's leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba, center, waves as he is elected as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after the party's leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Shigeru Ishiba, center, celebrates after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) during the party's leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba, center, waves as he is elected as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after the party's leadership election, in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Sanae Takaichi speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at the party headquarters in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at the party headquarters in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Officials show the result of the first voting to Election Commission during the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election at the party headquarters Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
One of candidates, Shinjiro Koizumi, right, casts his ballot at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election at the party headquarters, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba acknowledges after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at the party headquarters in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Sanae Takaichi speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Shigeru Ishiba speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at the party headquarters in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Officials count ballots during the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election at the party headquarters Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Party members cast their ballots at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Officials count ballots during the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election at the LDP headquarters Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Officials count ballots during the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election at the LDP headquarters Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
One of candidates Taro Kono, center, casts his ballot at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
One of candidates, Toshimitsu Motegi, right, casts his ballot at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
One of candidates, Yoshimasa Hayashi, center, casts his ballot at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center, casts his ballot at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Japan's Foreign Minister and one of the candidates Yoko Kamikawa casts her ballot at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
One of candidates Shigeru Ishiba casts his ballot at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
FILE - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida listens at the Quad leaders summit at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Del., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
FILE - Candidates for Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) presidential election pose for a photo before a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, on Sept. 14, 2024. From left are Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, Digital Minister Taro Kono, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi. (Takashi Aoyama/Pool Photo via AP, File)
