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Taro Aso elected president of Japan's ruling LDP

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-22 15:10

TOKYO -- Taro Aso, current secretary general of the ruling Liberal democratic Party (LDP), was elected LDP's party chief in its presidential election Monday.  

Aso, who served as the foreign minister in Junichiro Koizumi's cabinet as well as in the subsequent Shinzo Abe's cabinet, won 351, or 66.6 percent, of a total of 527 votes.

Former foreign minister Taro Aso bows to parliamentarians of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after he was chosen as the party president during their meeting at the party headquarters in Tokyo September 22, 2008. Japan's main ruling party chose outspoken nationalist Aso, an advocate of more government spending to boost the economy, to be next prime minister and woo voters ahead of an election expected as early as next month. [Agencies] more photos

According to the LDP election rule, the candidate who secures the absolute majority of the votes wins the election.  

"I will not fail the expectation of the Japanese people and is determined to make concerted efforts (with other LDP colleagues)," said Aso, after the results of the election were read out.

"We will fight resolutely with the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in the next general parliamentary election," he said.

"Only after winning the election could I accomplish my sacred mission," Aso said.

At a special session of the Diet scheduled for Wednesday, Aso will automatically assume Japan's premiership, as the LDP commands dominance in the more powerful House of Representatives, which has the final say in picking Japan's new leader.