Yasuo Fukuda, newly-elected president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was virtually elected prime minister by the country's parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

 

In the vote casting held at the House of Representatives, or lower house of the Diet, Fukuda won 338 votes out of the total of 476 valid ballots. Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition party, got 117 ballots.

 

Ozawa was elected prime minister shortly after by the House of Councilors since the opposition bloc enjoys the majority there. He obtained 133 votes out of the 239 valid ballots in the second round of voting. The upper house's first round of voting failed to give a result because no one gained more than half of the ballots.

 

The decision of the upper house is actually futile when it contradicts that of the lower house.

 

Procedurally, a joint committee for negotiation will be organized between the two houses for a unanimous choice. Under the Japanese Constitution, if the coordination fails, the lower house's decision will prevail to be that of the Diet.

 

Such coordination meeting for the appointment of a premier hasn't been called for nine years. The ruling LDP had been controlling both houses of the Diet as of July, when it suffered a crushing defeat in the upper house election and lost the majority to the opposition bloc.

 

Fukuda, 71, was assured of the premier's post as he was elected LDP president on Sunday since the ruling party still controls the majority in the lower house.

 

The seasoned politician, known for his friendly attitude toward Asian countries and close relation with China, will be the first Japanese premier whose father, Takeo Fukuda, used to be on the post.

 

Fukuda agreed with New Komeito party leader in the morning to continue the two parties' ruling coalition partnership. He will form the Cabinet later in the day and lead the Cabinet members to attend an attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace.

 

It is now the common speculation of the Japanese media that the Cabinet lineup is unlikely to differ from the current one significantly. Former Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura will be appointed chief Cabinet secretary, according to Kyodo News.

 

Abe and his Cabinet ministers resigned en masse as scheduled in the morning.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2007)