Tokyo, Sept 14 (UNI) Japan's governing Liberal Democratic party is set to vote on Monday to select a new leader to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who announced that he was stepping down because of health reasons.
The winner is almost certain to become Japan's next Prime Minister, as the Liberal Democrats enjoy a clear majority in the Japanese Parliament, BBC reported.
Yoshihide Suga the 71-year-old chief cabinet secretary in the current administration is the front runner in the race for the coveted post.
Mr Suga, who generally maintains a low profile, is considered to be a close ally of Mr Abe and most likely to continue his predecessor's policies if he succeeds.
Once the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has chosen its new leader, there will be another vote on Wednesday in the Parliament, where he is almost certain to be made Prime Minister because of the majority that the LDP enjoys in parliament.
Taking over mid-term, that new Prime Minister is expected to finish the rest of the current period, until elections are held in September 2021.
Mr Suga is a veteran politician.
Given his central role of chief cabinet secretary in the administration, he is expected to provide continuity heading an interim government until the 2021 election.
UNI ACL GK 1048/1058