Shigeru Ishiba is the new Prime Minister of Japan

Japan’s parliament has elected Shigeru Ishiba, the new leader of the ruling liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as the country’s prime minister.

Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stepped down from office earlier in the day to make way for a new leader.

The previous administration struggled with corruption scandals that led to the former prime minister’s resignation.

Ishiba’s policy focuses on defense and security, which pose an increasing challenge.

Ishiba, who stands in the lower house of parliament, bowed to his nomination before leaving to form his cabinet.

He is expected to hold a news conference on Tuesday to introduce members of his cabinet and outline his policy priorities.

Kishida, who took office in 2021, resigned to allow his party to rejuvenate its image ahead of the next parliamentary elections.

Ishiba quickly announced plans to hold elections on October 27, stating that he intended to obtain “the people’s judgment” on his new administration as soon as possible.

Opposition leaders criticized Ishiba’s quick decision to announce a new election date, arguing that the short deadline did not allow for an adequate debate on his policies.

Tensions were evident as opposition protests delayed the start of parliamentary voting by half an hour.

Ishiba appointed two former defense ministers to his cabinet, Takeshi Iwaya as foreign minister and Gen. Nakatani as defense chief.

Kishida, who announced his intention to resign in August to facilitate a leadership transition before the next election, held his last cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning before leaving office.

During the farewell ceremony, he was presented with a bouquet of red roses and applauded by the staff.

“As we face a critical moment both domestically and internationally, I sincerely hope that the new cabinet will vigorously pursue key policies that will determine Japan’s future,” Kishida said.

In an interview with Newsweek in April, Kishida highlighted the security risks Japan faces.

The country faces threats and tensions from China, North Korea and Russia.

“I think we are facing the most challenging and complex security environment since the end of World War II,” he said. “In a situation like this, we must protect the lives and livelihoods of our people.”

Ishiba’s foreign policy agenda includes proposals to address security challenges, including an “Asian NATO,” enhanced regional defense cooperation and a redefined security alliance with the United States.

In an article for the Hudson Institute, Ishiba suggested jointly managing U.S. military bases in Japan and locating Japan Self-Defense Forces bases in the United States.

He raised the idea of ​​joint control of US nuclear weapons in Asia as a countermeasure against potential threats from China, North Korea and Russia.

At the national level, Ishiba pledged to continue Kishida’s economic policies aimed at ending deflation and increasing real wages.

He also emphasized addressing falling birth rates, population problems and Japan’s resilience to natural disasters.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press