Japan's 100th Prime Minister Elected Today... Kishida Cabinet Inaugurated

▲Fumio Kishida [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Japan's 100th administration, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (64), will be inaugurated on the afternoon of the 4th.

Kishida, who took office as the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on the 13th, will be elected as the new prime minister through a designated election held in the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors during the extraordinary Diet session on the same day.

The House of Representatives election will begin at 1:00 PM, followed by the House of Councillors election at around 1:40 PM, with the final results expected after 2:00 PM.

Currently, in the House of Representatives, which is equivalent to the lower house, the LDP-Komeito coalition government holds 275 seats (including independents), accounting for 65.4%, well above the majority threshold of 233 out of 465 seats.

In the House of Councillors, the upper house, the ruling coalition holds 139 seats (56.7%) out of 245 seats, which is a majority. Unless a significant number of ruling coalition members write down an unexpected name for the next prime minister, Kishida's nomination as prime minister is certain in both houses.

If the election results differ between the two houses, the principle of the House of Representatives' priority will apply.

Kishida will become Japan's 100th prime minister since the introduction of the cabinet system in 1885, following Hirobumi Ito (1841?1909), who served as the first prime minister.

After the designated election, Kishida will immediately hold talks with Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, his coalition partner, to discuss the formation of the coalition cabinet and establish a cabinet formation headquarters.

Then, the new Chief Cabinet Secretary will announce the list of cabinet ministers for the new administration.

Following this, Kishida will formally inaugurate the new cabinet after receiving his appointment letter from Emperor Naruhito and completing the ceremonies for the prime minister and cabinet ministers.

Prime Minister Kishida will then hold his first press conference to outline the future direction of government administration and preside over the first cabinet meeting at the official residence.

Looking at the major figures of the Kishida cabinet revealed so far, it appears likely to continue the line of the second Shinzo Abe administration, which lasted for about 8 years and 9 months, including the Suga cabinet.

Hirokazu Matsuno, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, has been appointed as Chief Cabinet Secretary, the second-in-command at the Prime Minister's Office, which serves as the government's control tower.

Matsuno is known for placing an opinion advertisement in the New Jersey regional newspaper "Star-Ledger" in 2012, denying the coercion of the Japanese military's comfort women system and the Japanese government's responsibility, alongside then-LDP leader Shinzo Abe and others.

Junichi Suzuki, former Minister of the Environment and a member of the faction led by Taro Aso, a close ally of Abe, has been selected as the new Minister of Finance.

Aso will move from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to Deputy President of the party.

Koichi Hagiuda, classified as one of Abe's closest aides, will be appointed Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, while Nobuo Kishi, Abe's younger brother, will remain as Minister of Defense, and Toshimitsu Motegi will continue as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Seiko Noda, former Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications who competed with Kishida in the LDP presidential election, will take on the role of Minister for Regional Revitalization.

The upcoming House of Representatives election scheduled for next month will be the first critical test determining Prime Minister Kishida's political fate.

If the LDP secures a majority of seats and wins the election next month, Kishida will be reappointed as the 101st prime minister through a special Diet session; otherwise, his term may end prematurely.

Kishida is expected to dissolve the House of Representatives, whose four-year term expires on the 21st, on the last day of this extraordinary Diet session, the 14th.

In that case, the general election is expected to be held on either the 7th or 14th of next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.