Japan ruling party elects Yoshihide Suga as PM successor

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected 71-year-old Yoshihide Suga to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday, in a landslide vote billed as ensuring continuity in economic and foreign policy., Report says, citing RIA Novosti.

Suga served as Abe's right-hand man and behind-the-scenes fixer during his nearly eight years as prime minister, with the official roles of chief cabinet secretary and top government spokesman.

Suga received 377 votes in the leadership contest, beating Fumio Kishida, a former foreign minister who scored 89. Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister and critic of Abe who obtained just 68 votes.

On September 16, the Parliament will hold an extraordinary session.  A vote will be held on the prime minister's candidacy, who will replace the retiring Shinzo Abe for health reasons.