Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has chosen former chief Cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda to lead the party and replace outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The party announced that Fukuda won 330 votes in Sunday's party election. His only rival, former Foreign Minister Taro Aso, won 197 votes.
The new LDP leader is guaranteed to become Japan's next prime minister, because the party has a majority in Japan's powerful lower house of parliament. Lawmakers will formally elect the new prime minister Tuesday.
The 71-year-old Fukuda is in line to replace Mr. Abe, who resigned as prime minister on September 12, after just less than a year in office.
His government's popularity had plunged following allegations of corruption and mismanagement of Japan's pension system.
Fukuda is a political moderate who has said as prime minister, he wants to strengthen Japan's relationship with its neighbors and soften the country's approach to North Korea. - VOA News
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