Japan elects new prime minister

Japan’s ruling party has elected Finance Minister Naoto Kan as the new prime minister following the resignation of Yukio Hatoyama.

Kan won the support of 291 out of the 420 Democratic Party of Japan lawmakers. His only rival, Osaka lower house legislator Shinji Tarutoko, received 129 votes.

Japan’s parliament is to confirm Kan as the new prime minister on Friday.

Wednesday former premier Yukio Hatoyama stepped down under massive public pressure over having failed to live up to his promise of removing the US airbase from the island of Okinawa.

“We will work together as one in the face of the tough political situation and the upcoming upper house election and fight together unified,” AP quoted Kan as saying.

“My task is to rebuild this nation,” Kan said.

“Our first priority is to regain the trust of the people,” he said in a speech before the vote.

On foreign policy, Kan described the relationship with the US as vital, but stressed the importance of Japan’s ties with regional neighbors.

“With the US-Japan alliance the cornerstone of our diplomacy, we must also work for the prosperity of the Asian region,” he said in a speech.