Kishida may act as FM until new team formed

TOKYO－Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will double up as foreign minister until a new cabinet is formed after a special parliamentary session next week, reported local media on Thursday.

After Akira Amari resigned from the secretary-general post of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party due to his shock defeat in a single-seat district in Sunday's House of Representatives election, the party officially appointed Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to the party's No 2 post.

Motegi, former policy chief of the LDP, easily secured his seat in his constituency Tochigi Prefecture.

Former education minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will be a candidate to succeed Motegi as foreign minister, reported local media citing sources.

Under the Japanese Constitution, the cabinet must resign en masse when the first session of the Diet, the Japanese parliament, is convened following a general election. Then, the Diet will choose Kishida as prime minister in a special session expected to be held next Wednesday.

Kishida told reporters on Thursday that since he has gained the people's mandate through the general election, he now plans to speedily implement policies on key issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic and economic challenges.

"Until the new cabinet, I am thinking of working as foreign minister as well," said Kishida, who previously served as foreign minister.

Kishida led the LDP to better-than-expected election results on Sunday, with the party retaining its strong majority in the lower house.

Motegi said he would focus on tasks such as recovery of the pandemic-hit economy and party reform to enhance diversity, vowing to drive policy with speed.

"It is very important to show the LDP is changing, as we implement what we can do fast, while presenting the big picture," Motegi said.

He said the ruling party would discuss details for extra budget with its junior coalition partner Komeito to create "rich, fulfilling" economic measures.

The parliament is set to convene a special session on Nov 10 to confirm Kishida as prime minister. He is expected to name a new cabinet, which is likely to remain largely unchanged except for the post of foreign minister, shortly afterward.

Xinhua - Agencies