Shinzo Abe Is New Japanese Prime Minister
Josephine Roque - All Headline News Staff Writer Tokyo, Japan (AHN) - Nationalist Shinzo Abe was elected as as Japan's new prime minister on Tuesday garnering majorities in both houses. Abe prevailed with 339 votes out of 475 in the influential lower house, and 136 ballots out of 240 in the upper house. Abe has been vocal in working towards a tight alliance with the United States, changing the pacifist constitution, aggressive foreign policy and nationalistic teaching in public schools. Following procedure, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet all resigned to make way for the new government. Abe is scheduled to assign his Cabinet picks before a meeting with Emperor Akihito. Koizumi left his office with a bouquet of flowers in his hands and amidst cheering supporters congratulating him. It marked the end of his five year reign, made memorable by changes like the passage of legislation to privatization of the postal service. "There is no end to reform," Koizumi said. "I hope that the public will work with the new prime minister to believe in Japan's future and continue the reform with courage and hope." At 52 years-old, Abe is considered the nation's youngest postwar prime minister. He is expected to continue moves to remedy the waning ties among Asian neighbors China and South Korea.
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