Shigeru Ishiba to become Japan's next prime minister after ruling party vote

Shigeru Ishiba speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. Hiro Komae/Pool via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) - Former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba won the race to lead Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Friday and replace incumbent prime minister Fumio Kishida as the country's next leader.

The winner of the LDP's leadership election is all but assured to become prime minister given the party's control over parliament's powerful lower chamber.