Japan's Abe expected to be reelected as PM in special parliamentary session

Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-26 17:22:44|Editor: Song Lifang
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TOKYO, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- A special eight-day parliamentary session will be kicked off next Wednesday at which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to be reelected, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Thursday.

Following the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior Komeito party ally's sweeping victory in last weekend's lower house election, Suga informed both houses of parliament of the prime minister's expected reappointment.

Abe is likely to be reelected on the first day of the parliamentary session and to form his new cabinet thereafter.

The Japanese premier is expected to retain the majority of his senior ministers from the LDP and Komeito and the lower chamber is also expected to appoint its speaker and vice speaker on Wednesday.

According to ruling party sources as reported by local media, former Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura are both strong candidates for speaker.

Current speaker Tadamori Oshima is also expected by some LDP sources to retain his post, informed sources said Thursday.

Taking over from Tatsuo Kawabata as vice speaker will be a member of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, with Banri Kaieda who served as leader of the Democratic Party of Japan thought to be among the likely candidates.

Following the ruling coalition's resounding victory in last Sunday's general election, the special parliamentary session must be held within 30 days of the election as per the constitution.

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