Yasuo Fukuda, a quiet compromiser who has promised to bring stability and moderation to Japan’s tumultuous political scene, was elected prime minister by the lower house of parliament Tuesday.Fukuda garnered 338 votes in the lower house, many more than the 239 needed for a majority. His closest competitor was Ichiro Ozawa, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, with 117 votes.
The vote guaranteed Fukuda’s installment as Japan’s next leader.
Ozawa won the vote in the weaker upper house, controlled by the opposition party, but the lower house decision holds sway under Japanese political regulations.
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