Tokyo, Sep 16 (UNI) Yoshihide Suga was formally elected as Japan’s Prime Minister on Wednesday to become the nation’s first new leader in nearly eight years.
Suga, (71), a chief cabinet secretary to outgoing premier Shinzo Abe, was voted in by the lower house of Parliament where his ruling Liberal Democratic Party holds a majority.
Earlier in the day, Abe officially resigned from the prime ministership, making way for Suga. Japan's longest serving prime minister, Abe, last month announced to step down from the top post owing to health issues.
He pledged to carry on many of Abe’s programs, including his signature “Abenomics” economic strategy specially in a time of Covid when the economic health of Japan is going through a tough face.
Abe, whose support was critical in ensuring Suga’s victory in the party election this week, entered the prime minister’s office on the last day of his tenure and thanked the people of Japan, vowing to support the incoming government as a regular member of parliament.
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his new Japanese counterpart and hoped for stronger ties between the two Asian countries.
"Heartiest congratulations to Excellency Yoshihide Suga on the appointment as Prime Minister of Japan @kantei.I look forward to jointly taking our Special Strategic and Global Partnership to new heights.@sugawitter," Mr Modi wrote on his official twitter handle.
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