Japan's new Prime Minister Ishiba unveils cabinet ahead of snap election

Japan's parliament on Tuesday formally elected Shigeru Ishiba, the head of the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as the country's next prime minister.   

The vote came after outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stepped down.

Following his election, Ishiba named his 19-member cabinet, only two of whom were women. Foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa, one of the five women in the outgoing cabinet, was replaced by Takeshi Iwaya, a former defense minister. Katsunobu Kato, who was health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, was named finance minister, while Gen Nakatani was given the defense portfolio.

The final step of Ishiba's ascension is a formal meeting with Emperor Naruhito. The emperor will then officially appoint Ishiba and his cabinet in a ceremony at the Imperial Palace.

On Monday, Ishiba announced plans to call for a snap elections on October 27, a year before the scheduled date.

"I believe it is important to have the new administration get the public's judgment as soon as possible," he said.

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