Japan’s parliament elects former diplomat Kishida as new PM

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Fumio Kishida has been elected Japan’s prime minister in a parliamentary vote and will be tasked with quickly tackling the pandemic and other challenges and leading a national election within weeks. Kishida won comfortably since his party and its coalition partner hold a majority in both houses. He used to be known as a moderate but turned hawkish on security and more conservative on gender equality and other issues with the apparent aim to win the support of influential conservatives in his party. Predecessor Yoshihide Suga resigned after only one year in office as his support plunged over the pandemic. Kishida is expected to make a policy speech on Friday but is looking to dissolve the lower house to hold elections on Oct. 31, local media reported.