(Update) Ishiba Elected Japan's New Prime Minister in Parliament

   Tokyo, Oct. 1 (Jiji Press)--The Diet, Japan's parliament, elected Shigeru Ishiba, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, as prime minister Tuesday to succeed Fumio Kishida.
   At an extraordinary Diet session convened the same day, Ishiba, 67, was named to serve in the top government post in a vote at the House of Representatives, the all-important lower Diet chamber, in the afternoon and then at the House of Councillors, the upper chamber. He won the LDP's leadership election Friday.
   Ishiba plans to dissolve the Lower House on Oct. 9 and hold a subsequent general election Oct. 27. However, opposition parties are demanding that sufficient time be secured for parliamentary deliberations before a Lower House dissolution.
   On Monday, the LDP-led ruling bloc proposed to the opposition side that the extra Diet session be held for nine days until Oct. 9. The opposition camp parties rejected the overture.
   The LDP on Tuesday morning informed the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan of plans that Ishiba will deliver a policy speech at the Diet on Friday, question-and-answer sessions over his speech among political party representatives will be held at plenary meetings of the lower and upper chambers for two days from Monday and a debate among party leaders will take place Oct. 9.

(2024/10/01-15:36)

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