TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio plans to appoint Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu to succeed Akira Amari as secretary-general of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party, it was learned Monday.

Kishida, also president of the party, offered the key party post to Motegi in a meeting at the LDP’s headquarters Monday, the current foreign minister told reporters.

Amari conveyed his resignation to Kishida, following his defeat in his constituency in Sunday’s election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament. Amari secured a proportional representation seat of the party.

Amari assumed the party post following Kishida’s victory in the LDP leadership election in late September. It is unusual for the party’s secretary-general to step down only in about a month.

At their meeting on Monday, Kishida asked Motegi to make preparations for next summer’s election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber.

The prime minister also instructed Motegi to be bold in implementing concrete party reform measures.

Kishida plans to formally decide the appointment of Motegi as LDP secretary-general at a meeting Thursday of the party’s General Council, sources familiar with the situation said.

In Sunday’s election, the LDP won 261 seats, maintaining a so-called absolute stable majority giving it firm control of the Lower House.

At a special parliamentary session expected to be convened on Nov. 10, the LDP plans to elect former Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda as Lower House speaker, informed sources said.

Hosoda, 77, has also served as chief cabinet secretary. He currently leads the largest faction within the party.

JIJI Press