Fumio Kishida has won a race to lead Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), putting him on course to become the next prime minister. Mr Kishida will succeed Yoshihide Suga, who decided to step down after just one year in office.
As new leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. Kishida is certain to be elected the next Prime Minister on Monday in Parliament, where his party and coalition partner control the house. Mr. Kishida beat popular Vaccinations Minister Taro Kono in a runoff after finishing only one vote ahead of him in the first round where none of the four candidates, including two women, was able to win a majority.