Yoshihida Soga, an ally of the outgoing Japan leader, has been elected by the ruling party to head it • Parliament will vote on his appointment later this week
On the way to the leadership of Japan, Yoshihida Soga // Photo: Reuters
The ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party, today (Monday) elected Yoshihida Soga to head it, a move that paves the way for the 71-year-old statesman to become prime minister.
Suga, an ally and close ally of outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, promised to continue his predecessor's economic policies and adhere to the political principles of strengthening the security alliance with the United States.
Soga is expected to stand later this week for the parliamentary election, where he is expected to be easily elected as his party enjoys a solid majority in parliament.
Photo: Reuters
Unlike his father, who was born into a family of a political elite when his uncle served as prime minister and his father as foreign minister, Soga was born into a lower-class family and his father was a farmer.
Suga was born in Akita County after World War II and after high school moved to the capital Tokyo alone.
He worked in a cardboard factory and a fish market to finance his university studies.
Soga is considered in his party to be a man of compromise who knows how to unite the various elements that make up the ruling party.
Under Abe, Suga served as secretary of government and is considered one of the leading figures in the administration mainly behind the scenes.
Last month, Shinzo Abe announced his resignation, following his deteriorating health following a worsening of colitis, an autoimmune intestinal disease from which he suffers.
Abe broke the priesthood record in Japan and served as prime minister for more than 12 years.
