Abe elected as Japan’s PM

JAPAN: Shinzo Abe was elected Japan's Prime Minister by the lower house of parliament on Wednesday after he swept to power on a hawkish platform of getting tough on diplomacy while fixing the economy.

The powerful lower house named the 58-year-old as the country's new leader following a resounding national election victory for Abe's Liberal Democratic Party earlier this month over the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).

“This chamber decides to name Mr Shinzo Abe as prime minister,” said lower house speaker Bunmei Ibuki after the vote.

Lawmakers voted in Abe's favour by 328 votes to 57 for the DPJ's newly chosen leader Banri Kaieda, the industry minister during last year's Fukushima nuclear crisis.

Earlier Wednesday, the yen tumbled against the dollar on growing speculation that the Bank of Japan will usher in further easing measures to boost the economy -- a key plank of Abe's campaign.

As Japan's seventh premier in less than seven years, Abe replaces Yoshihiko Noda whose DPJ suffered a stinging defeat at the polls.

AFP