Former foreign minister Fumio Kishida won a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race on Wednesday (September 29), a victory that virtually ensures he will succeed Yoshihide Suga as prime minister within days, Reuters reports.
In an acceptance speech, Kishida vowed to lead a transformed party in a general election due within weeks and continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic which has battered Japan's economy.
However, Kishida enjoys only moderate public support and has a bland image and his victory could spell problems for the LDP in the election due by November 28.
Kishida defeated former defence and foreign minister Taro Kono, seen as an outspoken maverick, in a second round run-off vote. Two female contenders, Sanae Takaichi, 60, and Seiko Noda, 61, dropped out after the first round.