Shigeru Ishiba to be next Japanese premier after winning LDP leadership

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Shigeru Ishiba will become the next prime minister of Japan after winning the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic party in a closely contested run-off vote on Friday.

As president of the LDP the 67-year-old former defence and agriculture minister will succeed Fumio Kishida after a parliamentary vote on October 1.

Ishiba’s campaign proposals included the creation of an “Asian Nato” to counter the rise of China.

His victory came at the expense of Sanae Takaichi, a hardline conservative, whom he beat in a second-round run-off on Friday. LDP MPs and party representatives from Japan’s 47 prefectures voted.

Takaichi received 194 votes to Ishiba’s 215, narrowly missing the chance to become Japan’s first female prime minister.

This is a developing story