Japan's ex-PM Abe elected LDP head
(Xinhua) Updated: 2012-09-26 14:02
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Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) lawmaker and former prime minister Shinzo Abe delivers a speech after he was chosen as the party president at the party presidential election at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sept 26, 2012. Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party picked Abe, 58, as its new leader in a run-off vote on Wednesday. Abe could become Japan's next prime minister as opinion polls suggest the LDP will win most seats in an election for parliament's lower house expected in the coming months, putting it in a pivotal position to form the next government of the world's third-largest economy.[Photo/Agencies] |
TOKYO - Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 58, beat his rival ex-Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 55, to win the presidential election of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the party headquarters here Wednesday in a run-off following the initial round, in which all five candidates were not able to secure a majority of votes.
Abe got 108 out of 197 valid ballots against 89 clinched by Ishiba in the run-off involving only LDP lawmakers.
Ishiba obtained 199 votes in the first round of poll against 141 bagged by Abe, but still short of the majority threshold of 250 votes.
