Japan's Secretary of State Yoshihide Suga has been virtually confirmed as the next prime minister, succeeding Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
He is officially elected as the 99th Prime Minister at the extraordinary National Assembly convened on the 16th and officially starts the Suga Yoshihide Cabinet.
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected Secretary of State Yoshihide Suga as its next governor in an election for governor held at a hotel in Tokyo on the 14th.
Suga was elected governor on this day with an overwhelming vote.
A total of 535 people were given the right to vote, including 394 members of the LDP and 141 representatives of the LDP prefectural (large-regional government) branch association, and Suga won 377 out of 534 valid votes.
Suga's election was anticipated early.
Prior to even officially expressing their intention to run, five major factions of the LDP's seven factions decided to support him, which formed the Suga theory.
In addition to Suga, Liberal Democratic Party chairman Fumio Kishida and former Liberal Democratic Party secretary Shigeru Ishiba have been candidates for the election for governor.
Ishiba's votes were 68 and Kishida was only 89.
The elections for the nomination of the prime minister are held at the extraordinary National Assembly on the 16th.
The Liberal Democratic Party holds the majority of the parliament, making Suga's election clear.
After Prime Minister Abe took office on December 26, 2012, the Japanese Prime Minister will be replaced after 7 years and 8 months.
The Suga regime is expected to continue the direction of the Abe regime in a large framework.
Suga ran for governor's election, advocating succession of the Abe regime.
The factions who supported him noted that Suga was the right person to continue the policy of the Abe regime in the emergency situation of Coronavirus Infectious Disease-19 (Corona 19).
It seems difficult to expect major changes in Korea-Japan relations right away.
In a recent interview with the local media, Suga said that the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Agreement was the basis of Korea-Japan relations and "we will thoroughly respond to violations of international law."
It is a position that Korea should solve the issue of conscription, which has become the biggest issue in Korea-Japan relations.
The interest of Japanese politics is focused on the dissolution of the House of Representatives.
Suga's term as governor of the Liberal Democratic Party is until September next year, the remaining term of governor Abe.
In principle, the election for governor should be held again in September next year, but there is a possibility that Suga will disband the National Assembly before that.
This is because, if the LDP wins in the general election, the voice that Suga should reappoint will weigh on.
If Suga is elected as prime minister on the 16th, it is expected that a new cabinet will be launched without delay, and it is noted who will be assigned to key positions, including the secretary of state he held.
(Photo = Getty Image Korea)