With bulging in-tray, Ishiba to become Japan PM [Video]

Shigeru Ishiba was set Tuesday to become Japanese prime minister, seeking to restore the ruling party’s popularity and tackle a demographic crisis, a lacklustre economy and fears over China’s military build-up.

Ishiba, 67, on Friday won a tight race to head the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed almost constantly for decades. He says he intends to call an election for October 27.

Parliament, where the LDP has a majority, was expected to appoint Ishiba on Tuesday afternoon as Japan’s 65th prime minister, followed by the announcement of his cabinet.

Former chief cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato was tipped to be finance minister, while Gen Nakatani will take defence and Takeshi Iwaya foreign affairs, local media said.

Ishiba, who has held two ministerial posts, is a self-confessed defence “geek” who tried and failed four times previously to become LDP leader.

He finally succeeded this time because while a divisive figure …